Armenia’s Sensational Proposal

We aren’t expected in NATO, that’s why we were involved in CSTO. Armen Ashotyan, RPA vice-president, stated this at yesterday’s press conference, touching upon the expedience of Armenia’s membership to CSTO.

“In the period of last 25 years the West didn’t make any alternative security proposal for Armenia,” he said. At first sight, these ordinary statements may be considered sensational, particularly, in the context of Armenia-led foreign policy throughout recent years.

Just a month ago likewise statement by any representative of Armenia’s authorities would be impossible. It was enough to speak of Armenia’s membership to CSTO, and any official would explain, ground and convince for hours, what an exclusive and irreplaceable security system CSTO is. Meanwhile, presently, a statement is made, that Armenia is in CSTO not for the reason that it’s a functional and guaranteed security system for Armenia, but because nobody “is expecting us” anywhere else.

Of course, there is the reverse of the coin as well. Waiting for us “anywhere else,” including and especially in NATO, Armenia shouldn’t have led its policy for years in a way to be identified with Russia. This means, throughout recent years, Armenia did its best, so that we weren’t observed anywhere more seriously.

Presently, Armenia sends its message to the world, that it’s mistaken regarding its geo-political choice. This, basically, is a message, that Armenia is ready to review its geo-political orientation, up to the change of its security system.

However, the message also rightly contains the record—for that the West should provide guarantees to Armenia, which in previous years were limited within statements. The four-day war urged the necessity for drastic changes, seeking for unusual solutions under usual conditions. Exclusively by such settlements it’s possible to correct the mistakes, the authorities had formerly made.