15:07,
YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan is not participating in the ongoing Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Defense Ministerial Council meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan told ARMENPRESS.
He did not reveal the reason of Papikyan’s non-participation.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Artur Hovhannisyan from the ruling Civil Contract party said he has no information as to why Papikyan is not participating, but stressed he was sure that there is no political subtext.
“Suren Papikyan’s non-participation in the given event has nothing to do with Armenia-CSTO relations. I don’t know details. I am sure that there’s no political subtext,” the lawmaker said, adding that the reason could be linked with some technical issues.
Speaking at the defense ministerial, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu mentioned the ‘importance’ of Armenia’s participation in CSTO joint trainings.