Armenia parliament majority faction member: What if Azerbaijan becomes CSTO “partner?”

YEREVAN. – The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a very important partner for Armenia, but no one can claim that this organization is effective. Viktor Yengibaryan, a member of the majority My Step faction of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, stated this at Tuesday’s NA session debates on the matter of ratifying the second protocol on amendments to the Collective Security Treaty.

In his words, the need to launch reforms within the CSTO has long developed.

But he urged not to panic that Azerbaijan might get a hypothetical chance to become a CSTO “partner,” and added that this matter should be considered from another angle, too.

“Perhaps it will even benefit us [Armenia],” the MP added. “Haven’t you thought about that?”

He noted that Turkey and Greece, prior to being in a single security system—that is, NATO—have always fought wars with each other, and, as per the Armenian parliamentarian, if they had not been in NATO now, they would have continued to clash with one another.

Yengibaryan suggested not creating unnecessary tension among the society on this matter.

“Because when we need it, the public will immediately act against that initiative,” the MP added.