Ex-Defense Minister: CSTO membership allows Armenia to strengthen pressure on Azerbaijan, which, coupled with the development of the armed forces, is the most important guarantee of non-resumption of war
ArmInfo. Membership in the CSTO allows Armenia to increase political pressure on Azerbaijan, which, together with the development of the Armed Forces, is the most important guarantee not for the resumption of the war. ArmInfo ex-defense minister, lieutenant-general Vagarshak Harutyunyan expressed similar opinion to ArmInfo.
Moreover, even if in Baku they decide on a new aggression against the Armenian people, according to his estimates, this set will automatically become a guarantee of Armenia's victory in this war. Harutyunyan emphasized that thousands of Armenian officers providing combat readiness and discipline in the Armed Forces of Armenia receive education in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. He also recalled that Armenia purchases weapons and ammunition at domestic prices, which is not comparable to international ones.
"It so happened that there is no structure that can give us such advantages in our region, therefore, the prospects for Armenia's joining NATO are not visible today," the ex-defense minister stressed.
According to him, the very fact of the CSTO statement on Karabakh with reference to all principles of the settlement is evidence of the Organization's assistance to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Harutyunyan also considers the CSTO to be a supporter of fulfilling the demands of Yerevan, the Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements that fix the violator of the cease-fire regime.
On November 30 in Minsk, the CSTO countries signed a statement "On supporting the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement". The CSTO countries also supported the solution of the conflict on the basis of three principles: the right of peoples to self- determination, the non-use of force and the threat of force, territorial integrity.
In this light, the ex-minister assesses Armenia's political goals in the direction of Artsakh as solved. Unlike the goals of Baku, which strives through constant violations of the ceasefire regime, to create an atmosphere of fear in Armenia and Karabakh. Harutyunyan noted that in Baku they mistakenly believe that this atmosphere can affect Yerevan, creating the ground for concessions.