Armenia has suspended participation in the CSTO: Pashinyan’s loud statements

Yeghisabet Vorskanian
Feb 23 2024
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia's participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is "frozen". The head of the Armenian government said this in an interview with France 24.
Джерело: 
"The Collective Security Treaty, in our opinion, has not been fulfilled with regard to Armenia… This could not remain without our attention. We have suspended our participation in this contract. Let's see what happens next," Pashinyan said.

At the same time, Pashinyan assured that the issue of preserving the Russian military base in Armenia is not on the agenda.

Nikol Pashinyan also claims that a few months ago, Russia "openly called on the Armenian population to overthrow the government." According to him, "this propaganda from Moscow against him is not weakening."
Джерело:

Pashinyan also expressed his concern about the detention in Armenia of the Russian Dmytro Setrakov, who left the mobilization, calling it a "kidnapping". "We cannot tolerate illegal actions on our territory," said Nikol Pashinyan and threatened "consequences" if "Yerevan's demands remain unanswered."



Джерело: 

Armenia says ‘froze’ participation in Moscow-led security bloc

Alex Nanijanian
The Hindu, India
Feb 23 2024

09:04 pm | Updated 09:06 pm IST – Yerevan

AFP

Armenia has suspended its participation in a Russia-led security bloc, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview published on Friday, Yerevan's latest step to distance itself from Moscow.

Russia and Armenia have traditionally been allies but relations soured last year when Russian peacekeepers did not intervene to stop Azerbaijan taking control of Nagorno-Karabakh from the Armenian separatists who ran the enclave.

"In practice, we have frozen our participation in this organisation," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the France 24 channel, referring to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

The bloc, a defence pact, is led by Russia and comprises several former Soviet republics.

AFP

Armenia has suspended its participation in a Russia-led security bloc, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview published on Friday, Yerevan's latest step to distance itself from Moscow.

Russia and Armenia have traditionally been allies but relations soured last year when Russian peacekeepers did not intervene to stop Azerbaijan taking control of Nagorno-Karabakh from the Armenian separatists who ran the enclave.

"In practice, we have frozen our participation in this organisation," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the France 24 channel, referring to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

The bloc, a defence pact, is led by Russia and comprises several former Soviet republics.

Armenia boycotted a CSTO summit at the end of last year.

"We believe that the CSTO did not fulfil its objectives vis-a-vis Armenia in 2021 and 2022," Pashinyan said in the interview.

He also accused Moscow of leading a "coordinated propaganda campaign" against him and his government.

The Kremlin said on Friday it had not received official confirmation that Armenia was leaving the CSTO.

"We intend to contact our Armenian colleagues to clarify its statements on CSTO," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.

In September, Azerbaijani forces retook control of Nagorno-Karabakh in a 24-hour offensive that ended three decades of Armenian separatist rule over the enclave.

In a sign of its ambition for new security guarantees, Yerevan is seeking to rely more on its Western partners — mainly on France and the United States — than on Russia.

Moscow has for decades been the main moderator of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh but has been bogged down by its two-year Ukraine offensive.

Armenia formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the start of February, despite Moscow warning the small Caucasus country against the move.

It is now obliged to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he sets foot on Armenian territory under an ICC arrest warrant issued for the Russian leader in March 2023.


Armenia’s CSTO Membership Freeze: A Rift in Russian-Armenian Relations?

Maral Chavushian
Feb 23 2024
Safak Costu

As the morning sun casts its first rays over the Kremlin, the political atmosphere within seems as frosty as the air outside. Armenia's recent announcement to 'freeze' its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power in Moscow, challenging the longstanding alliance between Russia and Armenia. This move, articulated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has sparked a flurry of diplomatic exchanges, with Russia seeking a comprehensive explanation and openly criticizing Armenia's decision.

At the core of this diplomatic rift is Armenia's dissatisfaction with the CSTO, particularly its perceived failure to fulfill obligations towards Yerevan. Prime Minister Pashinyan's bold statement on 'freezing participation' underscores a growing frustration with the organization's response—or lack thereof—to Armenia's security concerns. This decision, announced in a recent interview, has left Moscow scrambling for answers, with the Russian Foreign Ministry strongly rejecting the criticisms and emphasizing the need for confidential dialogue to resolve any issues within the framework of their partnership.

Complicating matters further is Armenia's choice to invite observers from the European Union for security consultations, a move seen by Russia as a pointed critique of the CSTO's effectiveness. This decision not only highlights a potential shift in Yerevan's geopolitical alliances but also raises questions about the future of Russian-Armenian relations. The situation is further nuanced by Pashinyan's comments on the challenges of achieving peace with Azerbaijan, suggesting that Armenia is reevaluating its strategic partnerships in light of ongoing regional tensions.

Russia's reaction to Armenia's announcement has been one of both concern and criticism. The Russian Foreign Ministry's call for a comprehensive explanation from Armenia reflects Moscow's desire to maintain its influence in the region and uphold the CSTO's integrity. However, Russia's outright rejection of Armenian criticisms and its emphasis on resolving concerns through dialogue suggest an attempt to downplay the severity of the rift, perhaps in hopes of preserving the alliance's facade of unity.

The Kremlin's response also highlights a broader geopolitical chess game, with Russia keen on preventing any erosion of its sphere of influence in the post-Soviet space. Armenia's flirtation with the European Union, albeit for security consultations, raises the specter of a realignment that could diminish Russia's leverage in the South Caucasus. Thus, Moscow's diplomatic maneuvering in the wake of Yerevan's announcement can be seen as part of a larger effort to reassert its dominance and discourage further defections from its orbit.

In the midst of this diplomatic quagmire, the importance of open and confidential dialogue cannot be overstated. Russia's call for a constructive approach to address the issues within the CSTO framework underscores the potential for reconciliation, albeit through a process of negotiations that could test the resilience of Russian-Armenian relations. The hope that Armenia will recognize the importance of resolving concerns through dialogue offers a glimmer of optimism in an otherwise tense situation.

As both nations navigate this challenging chapter, the international community watches closely, aware that the outcome could have far-reaching implications for regional stability and the balance of power in the South Caucasus. The path forward is uncertain, but what remains clear is the need for honest communication and a willingness to address the underlying issues that have led to this moment of reckoning.

https://bnnbreaking.com/politics/armenias-csto-membership-freeze-a-rift-in-russian-armenian-relations

Pashinyan: Armenia has ‘frozen’ its participation in the CSTO

Adrine Hakobian
Feb 23 2024
 

ByArshaluys Barseghyan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia’s participation in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) was ‘basically frozen’ because of its failure to come to Armenia’s defence.

In an interview with France 24 on Thursday, Pashinyan criticised the CSTO for not fulfilling its security obligations towards Armenia in 2021 and 2022, saying that the CSTO’s refusal to come to its aid in the face of Azerbaijani attacks ‘could not have gone without consequences’.

‘The consequence is that in practice, we have basically frozen our participation in the CSTO’, said Pashinyan.

Article 4 of the CSTO charter stipulates that members of the security bloc are obliged to mutually defend each other against external threats or attacks.

The interviewer also asked Pashinyan if Armenia intended to close Russia’s military base in Armenia, to which he replied that Russia’s military presence in Armenia was based on a separate ‘legal-contractual framework’. 

‘We haven’t had the occasion to address that framework’, said Pashinyan.

Pashinyan went on to accuse Russia of inciting Armenians to overthrow the government In September and October 2023.

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‘Russia’s highest-ranking representatives directly called on the citizens of Armenia to take to the streets and overthrow the elected, legitimate government of Armenia’, said Pashinyan, adding that Russian media had produced ‘systematic, consistent, and purposeful’ propaganda against the government, the elected authorities, and him personally for six years.

[Read more: Kremlin propaganda turns up the heat on Armenia]

Pashinyan also addressed the alleged abduction of Dmitriy Setrakov, a Russian fleeing the draft, from Armenia.

Setrakov was reportedly abducted by Russian soldiers impersonating Armenian military police and held in the Russian military base in Gyumri, before being transferred to Rostov-on-Don in Russia.

The Prime Minister stated that the Armenian authorities were investigating Setrakov’s reported abduction.

‘If everything turns out to be as you say, it will, of course, lead to certain consequences because we cannot tolerate illegal actions on the territory of our country’, said Pashinyan, adding that the specific consequences would depend on Armenia’s legal assessment of the incident. 

On the same day as the interview, Armenian independent media outlet Factor cited ‘high-ranking Armenian’ sources as saying that Russian border guards stationed in Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport would be removed ‘in the near future’.

Factor’s source refused to specify why the Russian border guards would be removed but stated that it was a ‘political decision’. The report came a day after Armenian and EU officials announced that Russian border guards had obstructed the EU mission in Armenia. Armenia’s National Security Service told Factor that they were not aware of the reported decision.

On Friday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning Pashinyan’s criticism of the CSTO.

‘We expect comprehensive explanations through bilateral channels about what really stands behind Pashinyan’s statements regarding Armenia freezing its membership in the Collective Security Treaty and in the Organisation itself’, stated the ministry. 

The CSTO on the same day told Ria Novosti that they had not received any requests from Yerevan to terminate its membership in the security bloc, and suggested that Pashinyan could instead have been referring to Armenia’s absence from CSTO drills and meetings.

During the interview, Pashinyan warned that Azerbaijan could be preparing for a new war, echoing statements he made on 15 February. 

‘In the peace agreement, we have a problem expressing the three principles declared and published in the framework of agreements reached on international platforms’, Pashinyan told France 24.

‘Analysing these problems and the statements coming from official Baku, we come to the conclusion that yes, an attack on Armenia is very likely’.

[Listen to the Caucasus Digest: Are Armenia and Azerbaijan heading towards war?]

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Pashinyan’s latest warning as allegations ‘aimed at clearly distorting the existing fact and confusing the international community’.

The ministry also accused France of having a ‘negative’ impact on the peace process.

France has grown increasingly supportive of Armenia since the 2020 war, even more so after the 2022 September fighting in Armenia.

On Friday, France’s Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited Armenia to sign several agreements.

Le Figaro reported that Paris will deliver three GM 200 radars and night vision devices to Armenia, and that France would also provide Armenia with three-phase mountain combat training courses.


Putin loses member of military alliance who warns Russia: ‘There’ll be consequences’

Emil Lazarian
UK – Feb 23 2024
By CHARLIE BRADLEY

Vladimir Putin has lost a key ally in Europe as Armenia rages at Moscow over its stance on the country's conflict with neighbour Azerbaijan.

Armenia has effectively suspended its membership of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a group of former Soviet states.

But Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday that the group "hasn’t fulfilled its security obligations towards Armenia."

Speaking to France 24, he added: "This couldn’t have gone without consequences. And the consequence is that in practice we have basically frozen our participation in the CSTO."

Pashinyan accused Russia of failing to step in amid the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the latter not a member of CSTO.

In September, Azerbaijan launched a military operation to take the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, at the centre of conflict between the two countries for years.

As a result, 100,000 Armenians were forced to leave the area.

Russian troops had been in the region as peacekeepers but left prior to Azerbaijan's attack.

Many Russian soldiers remain stationed in Armenia but this could be threatened by Pashinyan's growing anger at Moscow.

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Armenia has not officially notified Moscow of its intention to suspend its membership of the CSTO.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies in the mountainous South Caucasus region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the region in the 1980s and 1990s.

Tensions ramped up once again in 2020 when Azerbaijani forces recaptured all the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh after an attack.

Russia brokered a peace deal after six weeks of fighting.

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 02/23/2024

Yeghisabet Vorskanian 
                                        Friday, 


French Defense Chief Visits Armenia Amid Deepening Ties

        • Astghik Bedevian

Armenia - French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu (left) speaks at a joint 
news conference with his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikian, Yerevan, February 
23, 2024.


France will provide more weapons and other military assistance to Armenia to 
help the South Caucasus country defend its territory, French Defense Minister 
Sebastien Lecornu said during a first-ever visit to Yerevan on Friday.

“Threats hanging over Armenia force us to move forward faster,” he told Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian. “It is very important for us to react and take 
necessary steps quickly.”

Speaking after talks with his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikian held earlier 
in the day, Lecornu confirmed that Armenia took delivery the previous night of 
the first batch of French night-vision devices commissioned by it last year. The 
Armenian military will also receive soon air-defense radar systems and more 
armored personnel carriers from French manufacturers, he said.

The French defense group Thales signed with the Armenian Defense Ministry a 
contract for the supply of three GM200 radars during Papikian’s visit to Paris 
last October. Papikian and Lecornu signed at the time a “letter of intent” on 
Armenia’s future acquisition of short-range surface-to-air missiles manufactured 
by another French company.

Lecornu indicated that the supply of the Mistral air-defense systems is a matter 
of time. What is more, he expressed France’s readiness to also sell more 
long-range systems to Armenia. He further announced that a French military 
adviser specializing in air defense will be deployed in Armenia to help it 
neutralize “possible strikes by potential aggressors.”

Armenia - Armenian and French flags fly outside the Defense Ministry building in 
Yerevan, .

“Nobody can reproach the Armenian army for boosting its defense capacity,” 
Lecornu told a joint news conference with Papikian, clearly alluding to 
Azerbaijan’s strong criticism of French-Armenian military cooperation.

The Armenian minister emphasized, for his part, that Yerevan is acquiring these 
and other weapons for solely defensive purposes. In an apparent reference to 
Azerbaijan, he spoke of a “visible threat” to Armenia’s territorial integrity.

Neither minister shed light on a number of documents that were signed by them 
after their talks. The AFP news agency reported that the Armenian side also 
signed on Friday a supply contract with the French company PGM manufacturing 
sniper rifles. It said no details of the deal were made public.

The defense cooperation is part of a broader deepening of French-Armenian 
relations cemented by the existence of an influential Armenian community in 
France. It comes amid Armenia’s mounting tensions with Russia, its longtime 
ally. Neighboring Iran has also signaled unease over the pro-Western tilt in 
Armenian foreign policy.

“Our Iranian partners respect our cooperation with other partners, and I think 
our Russian and other partners should do the same because Armenia has no taboos 
when it comes to cooperation to the benefit of Armenia,” Papikian said in this 
regard.

Armenia is “turning to partners that are truly providers of security,” Lecornu 
said when asked to comment on the tensions between Yerevan and Moscow.




Armenian Security Service Denies Russian Obstruction Of EU Mission

        • Artak Khulian

Armenia -- The main entrance to the National Security Service headquarters in 
Yerevan.


The National Security Service (NSS) denied on Friday claims that Russian border 
guards prevent European Union monitors from inspecting a section of Armenia’s 
border with Azerbaijan where four Armenian soldiers were killed last week.

They died when their positions around Nerkin Hand, a village in the southeastern 
Syunik province, came under cross-border fire early on February 13.

The head of the EU monitoring mission, Markus Ritter, said on Wednesday that the 
Russian side did not allow its members to visit Nerkin Hand both before and 
after the incident. Armen Grigorian, the pro-Western secretary of Armenia’s 
Security Council, echoed the claim, saying that Yerevan “will try to address the 
problem.”

RFE/RL’s Armenian Service asked the NSS to clarify whether the EU monitors 
indeed have no access to border sections where Russian border guards and 
military personnel are deployed.

“There are no obstacles to the observation activities of representatives of the 
EU mission at the sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border guarded by the 
border guard troops of the NSS,” the security agency said in a written reply.

“The purpose of the deployment of Russian border guards on the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border is to monitor and take measures aimed at resolving 
possible conflicts peacefully,” added the statement.

Grigorian also blamed the Russians for Azerbaijan’s deadly ceasefire violation. 
“Russia is present there and it failed to prevent the incident,” he said.

Narek Ghahramanian, a Syunik-based parliamentarian representing Armenia’s ruling 
Civil Contract party, insisted on Thursday that “there is no Russian presence” 
in or around Nerkin Hand. There is only a Russian checkpoint on a road leading 
to Nerkin Hand, Ghahramanian said, adding that he has never had trouble visiting 
the remote village.

Russia deployed troops to Syunik during and shortly after the 2020 war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh to help the Armenian military defend the strategic region 
against possible Azerbaijani attacks. Russian-Armenian relations have 
significantly deteriorated since then, with Yerevan accusing Moscow of not 
honoring its security commitments to Armenia.




Pashinian Again Warns Of Azeri Attack On Armenia

        • Ruzanna Stepanian

Germany - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts talks between Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, February 18, 
2024.


Just days after his latest talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian has accused Azerbaijan of planning military aggression 
against Armenia.

“Analyzing … statements made from official Baku, we come to the conclusion that 
yes, an attack on Armenia is very likely,” he told the France 24 TV channel in 
an interview broadcast on Friday.

Pashinian complained that the Azerbaijani leadership is still reluctant to 
recognize Armenia’s border “without ambiguity” and continues to refer to much of 
Armenian territory as “Western Azerbaijan.” He said Baku is not honoring 
understandings on the key parameters of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty 
reached by him and Aliyev during their meetings in 2022 and 2023 mediated by the 
European Union.

Speaking on February 18, one day after meeting with Aliyev in Munich, Pashinian 
stated that both sides are “committed to those understandings.” Both leaders 
sounded satisfied with the talks hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The 
latter said they “agreed to resolve open issues without new violence.”

It was also agreed that the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers will meet 
soon for further discussions on the peace treaty. A senior Armenian official 
said on Thursday that the two sides continue to disagree on key provisions of 
the would-be treaty.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry rejected Pashinian’s latest claims. It said 
they are “absolutely baseless” and aimed at misleading the international 
community.

Pashinian already charged on February 15 that Azerbaijan is pursuing a “policy 
of military coercion” in an effort to clinch more Armenian territory and other 
concessions from Yerevan. He said it may be planning to launch “military 
operations at some sections of the border with the prospect of turning the 
military escalation into a full-scale war against Armenia.”

The premier went on to reject Azerbaijani demands for major legislative changes 
in Armenia, saying that they constitute a violation of his country’s sovereignty 
and interference in its internal affairs. Pashinian himself called last month 
for the adoption of a new Armenian constitution reflecting the “new geopolitical 
environment” in the region. His critics say that he did so under Azerbaijani 
pressure.




Armenia’s Membership In Russian-Led Defense Bloc ‘Frozen’


France - French President Emmanuel Macron meets Armenian Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian at the Elysee Palace in Paris, February 21, 2024.


Armenia has essentially frozen its membership in the Russian-led Collective 
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said in a 
televised interview publicized on Friday.

“In our view, the CSTO has not fulfilled -- in 2021 and 2022 in particular -- 
its security obligations to Armenia, and we could not have let that go without 
consequences,” Pashinian told the France 24 TV channel. “As a consequence, we 
have, in effect, frozen our participation in the CSTO. We’ll see what happens 
tomorrow.”

Armenia officially requested military intervention from Russia and other CSTO 
allies after Azerbaijan’s offensive military operations launched along the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border in September 2022. It has since repeatedly accused 
them of ignoring the request in breach of the CSTO’s statutes and declared 
mission. It has declined CSTO offers to provide “military-technical assistance” 
to Yerevan and deploy a monitoring mission to the border.

Last year, Pashinian’s government not only shunned various-level CSTO meetings 
but also cancelled a CSTO exercise in Armenia, refused to name an Armenian 
deputy head of the organization and recalled the Armenian representative to its 
Moscow headquarters.

Moscow reacted cautiously to Pashinian’s latest remarks, with Kremlin spokesman 
Dmitry Peskov saying that it expects Yerevan to clarify them. Peskov also noted 
that the Armenian side has not notified the CSTO about the suspensions of its 
membership in the organization.

Belarus - Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a CSTO summit in Minsk, 
November 23, 2023.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested in December that Armenia is not 
planning to leave the CSTO and attributed Yerevan’s boycott of the organization 
to internal “processes” taking place in the country. By contrast, the Russian 
Foreign Ministry earlier accused Pashinian of systematically “destroying” 
Russian-Armenian relations.

Pashinian, who was apparently interviewed by the French broadcaster during a 
visit to Paris on Wednesday, also claimed that in the wake of Azerbaijan’s 
recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh last September “Russia’s most high-ranking 
representatives” encouraged Armenians to take to the streets and topple him. 
Moscow did not immediately respond to the claim.

Pashinian also hit out at out Russia when he visited Germany at the weekend to 
attend an annual security conference in Munich. He met with German Chancellor 
Olaf Scholz, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British intelligence 
chief Richard Moore on the sidelines of the forum.

The Armenian premier’s latest criticism of Russia highlights a deepening rift 
between the two longtime allies. He has so far stopped short of announcing plans 
to pull Armenia out of the CSTO and demand the withdrawal Russian troops from 
the country.

Pashinian and his political allies say that they are “diversifying” Armenia’s 
foreign and security policy due to the lack of Russian support. Their political 
opponents regard the policy change as reckless, arguing that the West is not 
ready to give Yerevan any security guarantees or provide it with significant 
military aid.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Strengthening Ties and Defenses: France Commits to Bolstering Armenia’s Military Capabilities

Emma Jilavian
Feb 23 224
Momen Zellmi

In the shadow of historical cathedrals and the vibrant life of Yerevan, a significant announcement was made that could potentially shift the balance of power in the region. The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, stood firmly on Armenian soil, promising not just words of support but tangible military assistance. This gesture of solidarity comes at a crucial time for Armenia, a nation striving to fortify its defense capabilities amidst ongoing regional tensions.

During a press conference that caught the attention of international observers, Lecornu outlined France's commitment to Armenia's security needs. The focal point of his discourse was the provision of defense equipment, including sophisticated air defense systems and missiles of varying ranges. "Armenia's right to defend its population and borders is a priority for France," Lecornu stated, emphasizing the strategic nature of the military cooperation between the two nations. According to reports, this includes the delivery of three Thalès Ground Master (GM 200) radars, capable of detecting threats up to 250 kilometers away, alongside night vision devices and other critical equipment.

However, France's support for Armenia extends beyond mere equipment; it encompasses a comprehensive approach to bolstering Armenia's defense capabilities. Lecornu highlighted the importance of personnel training, indicating that French military experts would conduct mountain combat training courses for Armenian troops. This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize Armenia's armed forces, ensuring they are prepared to meet contemporary challenges with resilience and expertise. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan echoed this sentiment, lauding the multifaceted nature of the Franco-Armenian military cooperation, which includes defense reforms, military education, and the modernization of defense measures.

The bolstering of Armenia's defense capabilities through French assistance raises questions about the potential impact on regional stability. While the move is poised to enhance Armenia's security, it also underscores the intricate web of alliances and enmities that define geopolitics in the area. Lecornu's visit and the subsequent military support signify a deepening of ties between France and Armenia, but it also sends a message to neighboring countries about France's willingness to support its allies. The strategic implications of this enhanced military cooperation are yet to unfold, but the gesture itself is a clear indication of France's stance on supporting nations in their quest to safeguard their sovereignty and protect their citizens.

The story of France's commitment to Armenia's defense capabilities is one of international solidarity, strategic interests, and the complexities of regional politics. As Armenia receives these much-needed military enhancements, the eyes of the world will be watching, waiting to see how this partnership evolves and what it means for the future of peace and stability in the region.

https://bnnbreaking.com/politics/strengthening-ties-and-defenses-france-commits-to-bolstering-armenias-military-capabilities

Armenia Says ‘Froze’ Participation in Russia-Led Security Bloc By AFP

Tambiyan Samvel
Feb 23 2024
By AFP

Armenia has suspended its participation in a Russia-led security bloc, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview published on Friday, Yerevan's latest step in distancing itself from Moscow.

Russia and Armenia have traditionally been allies but relations soured last year when Russian peacekeepers failed to intervene when Azerbaijan took control of the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where Armenian separatists were in control.

"In practice, we have frozen our participation in this organization," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the France 24 channel, referring to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

The bloc, a defence pact, is led by Russia and comprises several former Soviet republics.

NEWSREAD MORE

Yerevan boycotted a CSTO summit at the end of last year, and in the interview published Friday, Pashinyan said his country "believes that the CSTO did not fulfill its objectives vis-a-vis Armenia in 2021 and 2022."

He also accused Moscow of leading a "coordinated propaganda campaign" against him and his government.

The Kremlin said Friday it had not received official confirmation that Armenia was leaving the CSTO.

"We intend to contact our Armenian colleagues to clarify its statements on CSTO," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.

In September, Azerbaijani forces retook control of Nagorno-Karabakh in a lightning offensive that ended three decades of Armenian separatist rule over the enclave.

In a sign of its ambition for new security guarantees, Yerevan is seeking to rely more on its Western partners — mainly on France and the United States — than on Russia.

Moscow has for decades been the key mediator of disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh, but it has been bogged down in its war against Ukraine over the past two years.

Armenia formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the start of February, despite Moscow warning the small Caucasus country against the move.

It is now obliged to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he sets foot on Armenian territory under an ICC arrest warrant issued for the Russian leader in March 2023.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/02/23/armenia-says-froze-participation-in-russia-led-security-bloc-a84221

Media: Zelensky may visit Armenia in near future

Raffi Khondkarian
Kyiv Independent, Ukraine
Feb 23 2024

President Volodymyr Zelensky may visit Armenia in “the near future,” as relations between Kyiv and Yerevan warm up, the Armenian news outlet FactorTV reported on Feb. 23.

Preparations for the visit are currently underway, but the exact date has not yet been confirmed, the outlet reported, citing its sources.

Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Armenia Valeri Lobach neither confirmed nor denied plans for a visit were in the works in response to FactorTV, instead hinting that Zelensky is preparing to come to Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.

"I can only say that spring will bring many positive events to Armenia,” Lobach told the outlet.

Once a long time-ally of Russia, especially vis-a-vis its primary regional foe Azerbaijan, Armenia has largely refrained from getting involved in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

The calculus changed after Russian "peacekeepers" failed to prevent Azerbaijan's offensive into the Nagorno-Karabakh region, primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, in September 2023.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Feb. 1 that Armenia's defense strategy cannot rely on Russia as it used to, and that Yerevan needed to more closely examine its security relations with the U.S., France, India, and other countries.

Lobach also told FactorTV that “Ukraine is ready to support Armenia,” and “will do everything for the regulation and stabilization of the region."

Zelensky met Pashinyan for the first time in October 2023 during his visit to Spain for the European Political Community Summit in Granada. The two discussed the security situation in the South Caucasus, bilateral cooperation, and interregional economic projects, Zelensky said at the time.

Armenia delivered its first batch of humanitarian aid to Ukraine in September of last year. Later in February 2024, representatives of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine and the Armenian Embassy in Ukraine delivered 10 tons of medical equipment to one of Ukraine's main military hospitals.

France, Armenia hail military ties amid Russia tensions

Albert Nalbandian
Feb 23 2024

  • Marina de Russe with Anna Smolchenko in Paris

    •  

  • Feb 23, 2024

France and Armenia on Friday hailed growing military cooperation as Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan seeks to reduce his small country's dependence on former master Russia.

In an interview with French media, Pashinyan said Armenia had put on ice its participation in a Russia-led security bloc, while France's Sebastien Lecornu travelled to Armenia on the first such trip by a French defence minister to the South Caucasus nation.

Diplomatic tensions are high between France and Azerbaijan, which arrested a Frenchman on espionage charges in December.

And a rift is growing between Moscow and Yerevan, which has become angry with the Kremlin over its inaction over Armenia's long-running confrontation with Azerbaijan.

"Armenia has adopted the idea of modernising the army. We are going to use our own means and the help of partner states," Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan said in Yerevan alongside Lecornu.

Lecornu said Armenia was "turning to partners who really provide security". 

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Caucasus country has relied on Russia for its military and economic support, and also hosts a Russian military base.

But many Armenians say they cannot forgive Moscow for shirking its responsibility to defend their country militarily against Turkey-allied Azerbaijan.

Analysts say Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, does not want to hurt ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought two wars, in the 1990s and in 2020, before Azerbaijani forces last September retook control of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in a lightning offensive that ended three decades of Armenian separatist rule over the enclave. 

Pashinyan has warned that now Azerbaijan is preparing for a "full-scale war" with Armenia, whose population is around three million people.

On Friday, Armenia agreed a deal for the purchase of precision rifles from French arms manufacturer PGM, though its price tag was not disclosed. 

In October 2023, France announced the sale of defence equipment — three radar systems and night vision goggles — to Armenia, provoking anger from Azerbaijan. 

"Armenian-French defence cooperation and joint efforts are exclusively aimed at establishing long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus region, as well as at developing the defence capabilities of Armenian's armed forces," the defence ministry in Yerevan said.

Azerbaijan has slammed France's policy of "militarisation" in the Caucasus.

Analysts say both Moscow and Baku are carefully watching Armenia's growing cooperation with France. 

This week French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about a "risk of escalation" between Armenia and Azerbaijan as he received Pashinyan in Paris.

France is home to a large Armenian diaspora, and this week a stateless Armenian poet, who died fighting the Nazi occupation of France during World War II, became the first non-French Resistance fighter to enter the Pantheon mausoleum for national heroes.

In an interview with broadcaster France 24, Pashinyan said Armenia was suspending its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a Moscow-led defence pact that comprises several former Soviet republics.

Pashinyan said that the CSTO "had not fulfilled" its obligations in relation to Armenia.

"We have effectively frozen our participation in this organisation," he said. "We will see what happens tomorrow."

He also accused Moscow of leading a "coordinated propaganda campaign" against him and his government. 

The Kremlin said Friday that it had not received confirmation that Armenia was putting on hold its membership in the pact.

"I have a feeling that Nikol Pashinyan is going all-in, demonstrating that he has found a serious military shoulder to lean on in Armenia's confrontation with Azerbaijan," political analyst Arkady Dubnov told AFP.

"Pashinyan is playing a risky geopolitical game by shifting responsibility on Macron."

Analyst Tigran Yegavian said Azerbaijan would continue to "nibble away" at Armenia's territory.

"The question is whether French military support can act as a deterrent."

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https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/national/france-armenia-hail-military-ties-amid-russia-tensions/article_444e3859-482b-5cba-a26f-f8291150db23.html