Hayk Babukhanyan: Armenia’s only option is to remain CSTO member state

August 24, 2010 - 16:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Having genocidal and pan-Turkic states as neighbours, Armenia’s only way to ensure security is to remain a Collective Security Treaty Organization member, Constitutional Rights Union (CRU) party chairman Hayk Babukhanyan stated.

“History proves that Armenian massacres would always start with Russia’s decreased regional presence,” CRU leader told a news conference, citing 1915, 1923 as well as 1990’s events as an example.

“To be proof against suchlike precedents, we need the presence of Russian military base and CSTO membership. I’m certain that Russia will provide Armenia with the up-to-date defense technology and don’t believe in rumors of Azeri military budget running into a billion.”

Commenting on Turkish–Azeri strategic cooperation pact, Babukhanyan noted Baku will either have to give up the policy of threats and blackmail or accept the ideology of pan-Turkism.

“I hope there are sensible politicians in Azerbaijan, capable of altering Baku’s disastrous course,” CRU leader concluded.