Public Sentiments in Armenia Have Changed: Pashinyan on CSTO

Following recent events, there is public dissatisfaction regarding the CSTO's unbalanced response. Is Armenia preparing to leave the CSTO? In response to this question during a broadcast on Public Television, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated,  "Recently, in conversations with several CSTO partners, I noted that there is also a recorded perception that certain public sentiments in Armenia have rapidly increased. During one discussion, it was even mentioned that there are concerns within the CSTO that Armenia might leave. However, I responded by saying that the opposite concern exists in Armenia—that Armenia might lose the CSTO.

In other words, while some formulate it as Armenia potentially exiting the CSTO, I framed it differently: my response was that there is a fear that the CSTO might exit Armenia. In fact, this is not simply a play on words. Let us not forget that I am currently the chair of the CSTO, and the chair of the CSTO must have explanations with the Prime Minister of Armenia. With what I have formulated as seemingly straightforward wordplay, I believe I have encapsulated the entire issue.

Pashinyan added that Armenia expects a clear political assessment of the situation.  "At a working level, I have spoken multiple times within the CSTO, but now it is appropriate to address this publicly, given that we have had discussions with CSTO partners regarding Armenia's security, because the CSTO is the primary institutional tool for Armenia's security. We have received very clear assurances that the border of Armenia is a red line for the CSTO.

Last year, when the events at Sotk-Khoznavar occurred, we naturally turned to the CSTO and received a very strange response stating that the border is neither demarcated nor delimited. This raises the question of where the red line is drawn. We have already formulated a need for a clear answer to this question at that time. And this is important not only for Armenia but also for the CSTO because to say that there is no border between Armenia and Azerbaijan means to say that the CSTO does not exist because the CSTO has a zone of responsibility that is delineated by borders," he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that there is a border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and this border is known by coordinates.  "These borders are the administrative boundaries of the Soviet Union, which were recognized as state borders by the agreement of December 18, 1991."