Implementation of commitments by CSTO member states more important than CSTO secretary general issue: Acting PM

Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited today St. Katarine Armenian church in St. Petersburg, lit candles and met with the representatives of the Armenian community.

During the Q&A Pashinyan referred to the issue of the CSTO secretary general.

“This post is just a reason to speak about the issues relating to the reciprocal commitments of the member states. We want to get clear answers. No one can accuse us of not implementing any of the commitments. Like previously, now as well Armenia has proved being a loyal ally but unfortunately, it cannot be told about all our CSTO partners,” he said, adding that this is why Armenia wants to specify whether they are allies or not.

“If we are allies, we must implement all the commitments. The actions contradicting these commitments are difficult to understand. We must know who we can rely on, who we cannot,” he said, voicing conviction that the CSTO has the toll not to allow Azerbaijan to settle the conflict in a military way.

“Now the question is whether the CSTO is going to apply this tool or not. It is a strategically significant issue for us. The issue of secretary general is the least important, let him be Belarus representative forever, but all the reciprocal commitments must be implemented,” Pashinyan said, adding that there are serious issues regarding the CSTO member states’ vision over Nagorno Karabakh conflict and how much it stems from the nature of strategic partnership among the member states.

The acting PM stressed that as a nation Armenians must understand who it is surrounded with. “After we clarify the relations I can guarantee that there will be no wrinkles in our relations. We do not need formal status, we need implementation of commitments,” Pashinyan stressed.