Armenia concerned over stances of some CSTO member states: Defense Minister

Armenia is satisfied with the CSTO stance which is clearly expressed in the statement on Nagorno Karabakh adopted at the CSTO Yerevan summit. This stance was clearly stated by former CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“This stance has been repeatedly discussed during the assemblies of heads of states, councils of defense, foreign ministers. You probably mean the stance of some CSTO member states in bilateral relations or their preferences and voting in other international organizations. Here really there are some issues which seriously concern us and our society, we openly speak about them and discuss them with our partners in the CSTO and within our public,” Vigen Sargsyan said, stating that Armenia really believes that disagreement on stances over foreign policy issues in other international organizations weakens the CSTO.

He added that Armenia highly appreciates the cooperation within CSTO. “Armenia repeatedly raised the issue on finding solutions to the existing issues. That’s why we really expect that the CSTO must continue increasing its potential, become more effective, and we see the component of doctrine as a very important base for the further development of forces and measures of that organization. Therefore we are proud that during Armenia’s chairmanship to the CSTO it became possible to agree on and establish the CSTO security strategy,” Vigen Sargsyan said.