CSTO has seemingly washed its hands of Armenia and withdrawn – lawmaker

17:14, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. At this moment Armenia is not discussing withdrawing from the CSTO, MP Sargis Khandanyan representing the ruling Civil Contract party said Thursday when asked whether or not the Armenian authorities consider quitting the military bloc.

“It seems like it’s the CSTO itself that has washed its hands of Armenia and is withdrawing. The technical aspects and processes are a matter of additional discussions. A complex discussion should take place on the right time, moment and consequences,” Khandanyan, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Relations, told reporters.

Khandanyan said Armenia is open to cooperate with other partners in security and defense.

Asked on a possible prospect of replacing the CSTO with another system, the MP said, “How can the CSTO be replaced if the CSTO is displaying inaction towards Armenia? We don’t want to cooperate with the kind of a mechanism that would again display inaction.”

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS