CSTO member states continue to consider Armenia an ally, stated Secretary General Talatbek Masadikov, according to RIA Novosti.
“From the very beginning, Armenia has been an active and harmonious member state, which has made a worthy contribution to strengthening collective potential, and CSTO member states continue to regard this country as an ally,” Masadikov stated.
He reminded that CSTO member states have repeatedly confirmed their readiness to discuss with Yerevan all issues related to the restoration of Armenia's full participation in joint work.
Recently, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that the issue of depriving Armenia of voting rights in the CSTO may be discussed at the summit scheduled for November 11. Russia's permanent representative to the CSTO, Viktor Vasiliev, also said in early August that the decision to deprive Armenia of voting rights in the CSTO would require consensus.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Minister stated that the member states of the organization are preparing to take measures against Armenia for not paying membership fees for two years.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also noted in June that he is not worried about the prospect of Armenia being removed from the CSTO. He expressed the opinion that if the members of the organization make such a decision, then Yerevan will take it into account.
Yerevan has been boycotting work in the military alliance for the fourth year now.
After the Azerbaijani attack on Armenia in 2022, when the CSTO not only failed to provide assistance to Armenia but also did not give a political assessment of the occupation of Armenian territories, the official Yerevan ceased participation in the work of the CSTO and refused its quota for the post of Deputy Secretary General. In February 2024, membership in the alliance was suspended, and the Armenian side also stopped paying membership fees.
