Armenian speaker sceptical about CSTO mission’s arrival in Armenia

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has expressed doubts regarding the possibility of sending a Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) mission to the Armenian border.

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on February 2 that Russia's proposal to deploy a CSTO mission to Armenia is still valid, if Armenia remains interested, the mission can be deployed within one or two days, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

"I apologise, but I am not sure that this possibility exists. Because it was mentioned in the same interview that there are different countries with their own interests in the organisation. And I am not sure that one of them will not veto it," Simonyan told reporters in parliament.

According to the speaker, Armenia merely demanded a clear political assessment of Azerbaijan's actions but did not receive even that.

Simonyan also said that Armenia had once agreed to a draft peace treaty with Azerbaijan, submitted by Russian Foreign Ministry Special Representative Igor Khovayev, but there had been no follow-up.

"But this project is not talked about. Russia presented its option, to which Armenia agreed. But why weren't our allies consistent on this option and are now annoyed by the subsequent Prague agreement," he added.