12:24, 7 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan has said that participating in the CSTO PA session would have made no sense and that’s why he opted out. 

“There are outstanding issues, they are not implementing their obligations,” the Speaker said. “We only hear big talk against Armenia, whereas, if we look what happened after 9 November 2020, Azerbaijan, as an ally of Russia, numerously displayed very bad conduct, ranging from the killings of Russian troops, up to the violation of agreements. In other words, Azerbaijan did whatever it wanted in our region, and Russia either didn’t respond, or was unable to do so,” Simonyan said.

He recalled the discontent in Russia over Armenia sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine, whereas Azerbaijan has numerously sent aid to Ukraine, and the Russian authorities haven’t said anything about it.

“Unfortunately, in case of Armenia, Russia is reacting very painfully, but in case of Azerbaijan, it is either unable to respond or pretends not to have noticed it, in order to save its face during a bad game,” Simonyan said.

Simonyan was also asked to comment on Russia’s failure to deliver the armaments which Armenia has paid for.

The Speaker expressed hope that the issue will be resolved in a collegial atmosphere. He said it is a chance for Russia to show that it remains committed to the principles it has declared, and to the documents it has signed.  “And the Russian side has a chance to show that nevertheless it continues to be committed to its declared principles and signed documents. If obligations aren’t being fulfilled, and it is a fact that they’re not fulfilled, Armenia must definitely protect its interests,” the Speaker said.