Belarus urges caution in CSTO ties with Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) must act very carefully and correctly in its engagement with Armenia, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov.

He noted that while the organization has achieved certain results, there are also ongoing issues, including relations with Armenia, Belta reports.

“We must be more correct and cautious in working with Armenia. You know that Armenia seems not to support CSTO activities, yet at the same time remains a member of the organization. We must be very tactful. The situation in Armenia is complicated, especially during the election period (parliamentary elections are expected in summer). It is a very complex situation. Therefore, we must be very careful and delicate in our relations with Armenia,” Lukashenko said.

He also stressed the importance of organizing meetings between the CSTO Secretary General and Armenia’s leadership, especially during the electoral period, to ensure open and honest discussions.

“Especially now, during this tense election period, when Armenia’s leadership should speak openly and honestly about the situation, including regarding the CSTO,” he added.

Lukashenko proposed that the Secretary General visit Armenia and meet with the country’s prime minister, president, and secretary of the Security Council to better understand their positions on future cooperation.

“It would be good if you visited there and spoke with the prime minister, the president, and the Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, to understand their views on the future,” the Belarusian president said.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that expecting a change regarding Armenia’s return to active CSTO participation is unrealistic.

During an April 1 meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pashinyan said:

“We have never hidden our position regarding the CSTO, because in 2022 we had a specific situation. In my opinion, CSTO mechanisms should have been activated, but they were not, and this led to the situation we now have in relations with the CSTO. We are currently not participating in CSTO activities for a simple reason — we have still been unable to explain to our people why the CSTO did not respond, despite the obligations that exist under the Collective Security Treaty.”