“There are still a lot of issues in connection with harmonization of actions in key issues within the CSTO”

The Collective Security Treaty Organization is very important system for Armenia’s security, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said in a meeting with Russian reporters.

“It is also stated in the National Security Strategy of Armenia and the country’s Military Doctrine. We are considered as one of the founding members of that organization, and of course, we highly appreciate the structure’s potential,” he said.

The Minister added Armenia actively took part in the decision-making process on establishing CSTO operative response collective forces. “We are highly interested in the organization’s peacekeeping potential. We believe that this organization has a huge potential. We use very effectively the organization’s opportunities in terms of preparing military personnel, as well as military-technical cooperation.

We have a chance to buy military equipment and arms from producing countries with domestic prices”, the Minister said. He added that there are still a lot of issues in connection with harmonization of actions in key foreign policy issues within the CSTO.

“Certain steps were made on this path through Armenia’s efforts. Of course, we need to understand that not only the CSTO but also other international structures, including military-political alliances are well familiar with situations when the member states of the same organization can have different, sometimes, contradictory stances on foreign policy issues.

We think this weakens the organization, especially when its member states are not many. That’s why I think we need to work on this,” Vigen Sargsyan said.