Pashinyan Proposes to Leave Azerbaijan's Arms Purchase Requests Unanswered at CSTO Meeting

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Security Council meeting in Bishkek, which was also attended by the leaders of member countries, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The meeting began with a narrow session of leaders, followed by an expanded session.

The members of the CSTO Security Council discussed issues related to international and regional security, as well as cooperation among CSTO member states within the organization and the international arena.

In his speech, Pashinyan noted that Armenia intends to continue contributing to the enhancement of the CSTO's effectiveness and the strengthening of its international reputation.

Pashinyan emphasized the significant potential for developing cooperation among member countries and expressed that one of the modern directions for cooperation is in the field of high technologies, which was discussed during the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Economic Cooperation held in Armenia in September.

"I am pleased to note that we were able to reach an agreement on the appointment of a new Secretary General. I am confident that Stanislav Zas's experience will be crucial in this responsible position," Pashinyan said, expressing satisfaction with the completion of the normative-legal base improvement process that regulates the procedure for the change of the Secretary General in case of inability to perform duties.

He then addressed issues related to the security situation of our country and the entire region, discussing the resolution process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that militaristic ambitions are absolutely unpromising and that there is no alternative to peaceful negotiations and resolution of the issue.

Furthermore, Pashinyan pointed out that the stance of the Azerbaijani leadership poses a danger not only to the South Caucasus but also to the security of CSTO countries.

"I believe that a new escalation will have catastrophic consequences not only in the South Caucasus region but also beyond it. Azerbaijan, being in a state of war, could become a suitable springboard for Islamic extremists who, having lost influence in Syria, are looking for new territories for their activities. Moreover, geographically, Azerbaijan is a very convenient platform through which extremists can operate in all directions—south, north, west, and east," Pashinyan noted.

The summit resulted in the adoption of several documents. Among them are those aimed at enhancing international cooperation for strengthening global and regional security, the program of events celebrating the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the establishment of changes to CSTO normative legal acts, developing integration ties between defense-industrial complex organizations and enterprises, and organizing joint scientific research and experimental work.