What Does Yerevan Expect from Belarus's Nominee in the CSTO?

Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan received Stanislav Zas, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus, on May 27. According to a decision made during the ministerial meeting held in Bishkek, Zas has been nominated as the candidate for the CSTO Secretary-General for the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. This information is provided by the foreign ministry's press service.

Minister Mnatsakanyan emphasized the organization's significant role in Armenia's security system. Referring to Armenia's priorities within the CSTO framework, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of enhancing the effectiveness of the organization's activities through close cooperation among member states.

The Armenian Foreign Minister noted that the outcomes of the CSTO Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting in Bishkek led to agreements on both the candidate for Secretary-General to be presented to the Collective Security Council and the timelines for carrying out work related to the legal vacancy in case of early termination of the Secretary-General's powers.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stressed that the organization's Secretary-General should operate within the framework of the organization's foundational documents, respect the common interests of all member states, and ensure the smooth functioning of the secretariat.

The nominee for CSTO Secretary-General, Zas, expressed gratitude for his candidacy being presented at the session of the CSTO Security Council in Bishkek and assured that if appointed Secretary-General, he would consistently advocate for the security interests of all CSTO member countries.

It is noteworthy that Stanislav Zas is scheduled to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tomorrow.

Recall that the position of the CSTO Secretary-General has been vacant since Yuri Khachaturov was recalled from the post at the initiative of the Armenian side on November 2, 2018. Yuri Khachaturov has been charged under Article 300.1 of the Armenian Criminal Code in connection with the March 1 case.