Armenian parliament speaker criticizes CSTO, calls for reevaluation of participation

Alen Simonyan, Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia, voiced strong criticism of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), indicating that the alliance has disconnected itself and is not functioning effectively.

Simonyan's remarks, reported by Caliber.Az from Armenian media sources, highlight growing discontent within Armenian authorities and society regarding the CSTO's role and responsiveness to Armenia's security concerns.

Simonyan expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the CSTO's area of responsibility and Armenia's participation within the organization. He emphasized the need for the CSTO to address fundamental questions regarding its role and obligations to member states.

"The Prime Minister noted that effectively our non-participation means frozen relations. We have asked the CSTO a question to which there is still no answer. Where is the CSTO's area of responsibility? You have recognized our borders, within what borders does Armenia participate in the CSTO? There is still no answer to this question, I think that the CSTO disconnected itself and isn't functioning," Simonyan said.

The Chairman underscored the sentiment shared by Armenian authorities and citizens alike regarding the CSTO, suggesting widespread dissatisfaction with the organization's performance and effectiveness.

"Let's wait and see how everything goes. I want you to trust our political position and tactics at least a little. There are many things I can't say out loud, but I fully share the outrage, anger, and sentiment of every citizen of Armenia towards the CSTO,” he added.

While responding to inquiries about Armenia's continued participation in the CSTO, Simonyan advocated for a cautious approach, urging trust in Armenia's political strategy and emphasizing the importance of diversifying security arrangements to ensure Armenia's safety.

“I don’t understand the logic of constantly dreaming of being someone’s proxy, an addition. I think the alternative is to ensure the security of Armenia in every possible way and not put it all in one basket. We did so, and when the X moment came, when we were sure that it was impossible for our ally not to protect us, it turned out that our ally allowed this to happen and also turned a blind eye to many things. Then he accused us of violating the chronology. Maybe in their country, where there are 12 time zones, but in Armenia everyone knows when everything happened. This attempt did not work here, and it raised an anti-Russian wave in Armenia to such an extent that even the oppositionists defending Russian deputies did not allow themselves to talk about it. We didn’t do this, their actions did it, the lies they poured out from the screens, when even people who don’t like us said it was a lie,” Simonyan underlined.

Simonyan criticized what he perceived as the CSTO's failure to fulfil its commitments to Armenia, citing instances where the alliance did not adequately support Armenia's security interests.

He referenced Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's recent statement to France 24, indicating that Armenia has essentially suspended its participation in CSTO activities due to perceived shortcomings in fulfilling security obligations.

Simonyan's comments reflect deep-seated concerns within Armenia regarding the efficacy and reliability of the CSTO as a security guarantor. The criticism underscores Armenia's desire for reassessment and potential restructuring of its security partnerships to better align with its national interests and ensure robust defence capabilities in an evolving geopolitical landscape.