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Russian experts: All members of CSTO are in a single position on not being on Armenia’s side

23 November 2022 15:02 (UTC +04:00)

“Although CSTO’s summit to be held in Yerevan is important for the organization, it will not be fundamental for Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement,” Director of the Russian Institute of Political Studies, political scientist Sergey Markov told APA’s Moscow correspondent.

According to him, “Yerevan summit will be important for CSTO because the organization will continue its activity in the condition of the repressive policy of the United States against those cooperating with Russia”: “Member states to the organization will find the module for their existence without cutting ties with Russia, and being subjected to the West’s pressure. Because member states to the CSTO do not confrontation with the US, and in general with the West because of Russia.”

Russian expert noted that there is a single position on the issue of Azerbaijan-Armenia within the CSTO: “As for the calls of the Pashinyan government regarding the policy of withdrawing Armenia from the CSTO, the reason for this is that the organization does not take Yerevan's side in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. There is a single unity in the CSTO in this regard. All the countries of the Organization are in a single position about not being on Armenia’s side. Even most of them are by Azerbaijan’s side, not by side of the CSTO and Armenia… there will be no fundamental innovations at the summit of the organization to be held in Yerevan.”

Although, Markov emphasized that the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan may be important: "Pashinyan no longer asks, but demands, Russia to support Armenia more actively. Pashinyan threatens Russia that it will lean over France and the United States, which are the enemies of Moscow. Under these conditions, Russia should decide whether make some concessions to Pashinyan or to replace him with another Armenian politician. I think that Putin should decide on this issue at the end of this meeting. Besides, Russia's public opinion has a clear position on Moscow's neutral position in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Putin also has a clear position on this. This position envisages that Russia should play the role of a moderator in the Armenian-Azerbaijan settlement and make friends with both Baku and Yerevan. Russia tries to minimize the risks of conflict with Turkiye against the backdrop of the situation of war in Ukraine. Since Russia needs Turkiye as a friend and partner. Therefore, Putin's talks with Pashinyan will be very serious, and Putin will most likely make some important decisions at the end of these talks."

Russian political expert Yevgeny Mikhailov predicted that the CSTO Yerevan summit would be interesting and tense. According to him, it is interesting that the summit will be held against the background of anti-Russian actions in Yerevan: "During the summit, Moscow will do everything possible so that Yerevan does not make hasty conclusions. If Armenia puts forward its conditions at the summit that the CSTO should support Yerevan in the conflict with Azerbaijan, of course, Moscow and other member states will not agree to this. Since Moscow itself ensures security on the territory of Armenia, and Russia believes that Yerevan's calls to the CSTO in September to join the war against Azerbaijan are provocations. I think the summit will be difficult from this standpoint, and Armenia will not be allowed to deviate from Russia's sphere of interest under any circumstances. Moreover, Moscow will not allow Yerevan to influence Russian-Azerbaijani relations."