20:08, 5 January 2024
YEREVAN, JANUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Lebanon has filed an official complaint with the UN Security Council against the Israeli occupation regarding the attack on the southern suburb of the capital, Beirut, according to Al Qahera News Channel.
The complaint accuses Israel of violating Lebanese sovereignty and international law. It also calls for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
The Indian visa policy is a critical aspect of managing international relations and promoting cross-cultural exchanges. In this essay, we will specifically explore the Indian visa requirements for citizens of Armenia, focusing on the application process, types of visas available, and the potential significance of this policy for enhancing bilateral ties between the two nations. Understanding the nuances of the Indian visa system for Armenian citizens is essential for fostering educational, professional, and cultural exchanges, ultimately contributing to a more globally interconnected world.
Armenia and India share a long history of diplomatic relations that deepened over the years. The establishment of an Embassy of India in Yerevan in 1999 and the reciprocal opening of the Embassy of Armenia in New Delhi in 2009 further solidified this relationship. The visa policy plays a pivotal role in encouraging closer interactions between the citizens of these two nations.
To embark on a journey Indian visa for Cambodian citizens must first obtain an appropriate visa. The Indian visa application can be completed through the Embassy of India in Yerevan or via the online e-Visa facility, adding ease and accessibility to the overall process. This digital platform ensures timely visa processing and convenience for Armenian applicants.
Armenian citizens can apply for various types of Indian visas based on their specific purpose of visit. The most common visa categories are tourist visas, business visas, student visas, employment visas, and research visas. Each visa type carries specific eligibility criteria and documentary requirements that cater to the unique needs and circumstances of Armenian travelers.
The Indian visa policy holds immense importance for facilitating educational and cultural exchanges between the two nations. Armenian students pursuing higher education in India have access to a diverse range of academic programs, scholarships, and research opportunities. Simultaneously, Indian students benefit from the cultural and historical richness of Armenia through exchange programs, fostering mutual understanding and learning.
The Indian visa policy also enables Armenian professionals to explore career prospects in India. By granting employment visas, India welcomes skilled individuals from Armenia, allowing them to contribute their expertise to various sectors, including IT, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. Such collaborations foster economic growth while enhancing bilateral ties.
India’s diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, and historical heritage make it an appealing destination for travelers worldwide – including Armenian citizens. By enabling a streamlined tourist visa application process, India efficiently facilitates Armenian tourists’ visits, contributing to cross-cultural exchange, economic growth, and a strengthened global network.
While the Indian visa policy for Armenian citizens undoubtedly brings about numerous benefits, challenges persist. Continuous efforts should be made to simplify the visa application process, enhance consular services, and shorten visa processing times, ensuring a more visitor-friendly experience. Additionally, exploring opportunities for visa-free travel or visa-on-arrival provisions can further bolster bilateral relations
The Indian Visa for Armenia Citizens demonstrates the commitment of both nations towards fostering deep-rooted people-to-people connections. It aims to promote educational, cultural, and professional exchanges by offering a range of visa options to accommodate diverse purposes of travel. By continually evolving the visa system, both countries can unleash the true potential of their relationship, leading to greater collaboration, understanding, and growth on the global stage.
The real estate deal, which grants an Australian-Israeli investor Danny Rothman (Rubinstein) and his Christian Arab partner George Warwar (Hadad) for 98 years to the company Xana Gardens which includes around 25% of the Armenian quarter in the Old City, has sparked anger and concern among its residents.
Armenians have set up camp, establishing tents, stoves, mattresses, and even a TV for their weeks-long sit-in to protect the disputed land.
Recently, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a statement claiming that more than 30 armed individuals had assaulted members of the Armenian community, including clergymen. The attack was allegedly organized after the patriarchate took legal action to contest the controversial land sale. East Jerusalem and the Old City, consisting of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Armenian quarters, were seized by Israel in 1967 and annexed, a move not recognized internationally.
Land rights remain a significant point of contention in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, where Israel’s construction and expansion of settlements, deemed illegal under international law, have elicited controversy. Today, only approximately 2,000 Armenians remain in the Old City quarter after waves of emigration to the United States and Europe since the 1960s. Like most Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the majority of Armenians possess residency rather than Israeli citizenship.
Tensions originally flared within the Armenian minority in April, when it was revealed that the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, along with Father Baret Yeretzian, who oversees real estate affairs, had struck a deal in 2021 with a Tel Aviv-based company.
Many community members feel betrayed as the agreement was allegedly reached without their knowledge or consent. Although the Armenian Patriarchate claimed to have subsequently withdrawn from negotiations upon discovering “problems behind this transaction,” the sense of betrayal among residents remains. Yeretzian, the priest involved in the contract, has been defrocked.
The latest surge in tensions occurred after Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian patriarch of Jerusalem, sent a letter on October 27 to Xana Gardens officially canceling the agreement. Shortly after, “bulldozers, armed settlers accompanied by dogs, and residents of the Jewish quarter” arrived, revealed Setrag Balian, a 27-year-old activist. They managed to partially demolish the wall surrounding the parking lot during the takeover attempt.
The lawyer representing Rothman, Avi Savitzki, declined to comment on the matter. Supporters of the Save the ArQ movement, backed by Armenian diaspora communities, are working to protect the land belonging to the Armenian community, whose presence in Jerusalem dates back 1,500 years. Assistance from legal professionals and media coverage bolster their cause.
Amid the sit-in, where individuals of all ages take turns sleeping at the site, Kegham Balian expressed awareness of the political implications in the divided holy city, which remains a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He acknowledged that the battle ahead would not be easy, as they are not only up against a private company but also settlers. However, he asserted, “we are ready.”
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/12/30/jerusalems-armenians-vow-to-continue-battle-against-controversial-development-project/
TEHRAN – In a significant diplomatic move, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, has arrived in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia amid a fury of diplomatic activities to achieve lasting peace in the South Caucasus region.
Accompanied by a distinguished political and parliamentary delegation, Minister Amir Abdollahian embarked on this crucial mission to engage in discussions with Armenian authorities.
The warm reception at Yerevan airport, orchestrated by high-ranking officials of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marked the beginning of the visit. Notable figures, including Vahan Kostanyan, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Hayk Darbinyan, the head of Second Division for Bilateral Relations in Armenian Foreign Ministry, and other esteemed officials, were present at the reception ceremony.
This diplomatic endeavor aimed to encompass a spectrum of topics, ranging from political and economic collaboration to cultural exchange. Furthermore, the discussions were to delve into pressing matters concerning the South Caucasus region, emphasizing cooperation within the framework of the 3+3 cooperation format.
Crucially, bilateral meetings between the Foreign Ministers of Iran and Armenia are poised to pave the way for constructive dialogues, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation. In a joint press conference with Ararat Mirzoyan, the Armenian Foreign Minister, Minister Amir Abdollahian expressed contentment with the visit, highlighting Iran's alignment with peace, stability, and security in Armenia.
“Iran aspires for Armenia to experience peace, stability, and security, emphasizing that sustainable peace, untainted by external interventions, and facilitated by regional guarantors, can yield significant advantages for all parties involved,” he noted.
An additional announcement unveiled during the discussions pertained to the inauguration of the Armenian Consulate in Tabriz. Amir Abdollahian conveyed Tehran's approval for this consulate, expressing optimism about the official ceremony taking place in the early weeks of the new Gregorian year.
Acknowledging Armenia's dedicated pursuit of sustainable peace, the top Iranian diplomat shed light on recent dialogues with Azerbaijani counterparts, emphasizing their joint commitment to peace. Optimism prevailed regarding the prospects of enduring peace in the early months of the new Gregorian year. “Iran, Turkey, and Russia were proposed as potential regional guarantors to foster peace in the South Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Amir Abdollahian added.
In a continuation of the press briefing, the Iranian Foreign Minister commended the constructive stances of the Armenian Foreign Minister during the recent meeting of 3+3 cooperation format’s Foreign Ministers in Tehran. He expressed gratitude to Armenia for opposing warfare and atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, underscoring the need to prevent the Zionist regime from committing more crimes in the region.
Addressing the United States, Amir Abdollahian cautioned that an honorable resolution to the Gaza issue necessitates halting extensive military support for the Zionist regime. He asserted the improbability of a Zionist regime victory in Gaza, saying that the 80-day Gaza massacre that started from October 7 has caused Israel nothing but pure defeat and humiliation in front of the global community. He urged the U.S. not to persist in a path of failure and to let the people of Gaza determine their fate.
In another notable development, Minister Amir Abdollahian had a bilateral meeting with Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, underscoring the commitment of both nations to strengthen ties and explore new collaboration opportunities. These diplomatic efforts underscore Iran's commitment to positive neighborly relationships and regional stability. As discussions unfold, the world watches, anticipating outcomes that could potentially shape the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus region.
The diplomatic efforts exemplify the ongoing commitment of Iran to cultivate positive relationships with its neighbors and contribute to regional stability.
MAS
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/493028/Iran-FM-visits-Armenia-amid-peace-talks
“It is something that we have encouraged. The Armenians are free to take their own decisions. In my opinion, Armenia has already started to get closer to us, to ask for more cooperation, more political dialogue with NATO. We encourage whatever is decided by our partners that we believe is good for the stability of the region,” Colomina said in an interview with Georgia’s First TV Channel.
The representative of the North Atlantic Alliance also expressed support to the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which, in his words, is of fundamental importance for maintaining stability in the Caucasus.
Press Secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, has revealed to RIA Novosti that there are no current plans for a separate bilateral meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the approaching Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit. This announcement comes amid longstanding tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
While there is no formal scheduled meeting, the sidelines of the summit provide an opportunity for all attending leaders to engage in discussions. The lack of an official dialogue, therefore, does not rule out the possibility of informal interactions between the two leaders. The CIS summit, a platform for leaders of former Soviet republics, is primarily aimed at facilitating conversations around cooperation and matters of mutual interest.
The backdrop to this summit is a series of geopolitical tensions. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in negotiations to normalize relations and potentially sign a peace agreement, a process in which Russia and the West have been competitive participants. The U.S. and EU’s involvement in these peace negotiations, alongside Azerbaijan’s strained relationship with France and the EU’s support for Armenia’s armed forces, further complicate the situation.
Prime Minister Pashinyan has publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, implying that the loss of Nagorno Karabakh was due to him and demonstrating a potential inclination towards the West. This has been met with mockery and warnings from the Russian side. Despite these tensions, Pashinyan and President Aliyev signed a declaration acknowledging Yerevan’s recognition of Baku’s sovereignty over Karabakh. The potential shift in Armenia’s allegiances, from friendly Russian-Armenian ties towards the West, has raised concerns and is a subject of keen interest at the upcoming CIS summit.
10:36,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has left for Russia on a two-day visit to participate in the EEU and CIS summits.
The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) summit will take place on December 25 in Saint Petersburg. The CIS informal summit will be held the next day, the Prime Minister's Office said in a press release.
Monday,
Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal No Panacea, Insists Baku
Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov attends a joint news
conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in Baku, April 27,
2023.
An Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty would not end all disputes between the two
South Caucasus states, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said over
the weekend.
“It cannot be said that the peace treaty will ensure a 100 percent solution to
all issues but it can lay the groundwork for the development of relations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Bayramov told Azerbaijani state television.
He did not say which issues will remain unresolved if Baku and Yerevan succeed
in negotiating such a treaty.
One of the remaining sticking points in their discussions is how to delimit and
demarcate the long Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Yerevan has insisted until now
on including in the peace accord a clear delimitation mechanism that would
commit Baku to recognizing Armenia’s international borders.
The Azerbaijani side has been reluctant to do that. It is also against using
late Soviet-era maps for the delimitation process, an idea advanced by Armenia
and backed by the European Union.
Hikmet Hajiyev, a top foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, said last week that Baku believes "the border delimitation issue should
be kept separate from peace treaty discussions." Alen Simonian, the Armenian
parliament speaker and a leading member of the ruling Civil Contract party, said
that Yerevan does not object to this in principle.
Armenian opposition leaders expressed serious concern over such an arrangement,
saying that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government is ready to make more
concessions to Azerbaijan without securing anything in return.
Pashinian and other Armenian officials themselves suggested this summer that
Aliyev wants to leave the door open for future territorial claims to Armenia.
Some Armenian analysts believe this is the reason why Aliyev keeps delaying
further negotiations mediated by the United States and the European Union.
The Azerbaijani leader said earlier this month that the peace treaty would not
be enough to preclude another Armenian-Azerbaijani war. He demanded concrete
safeguards against Armenian “revanchism.”
Pashinian Allies Lash Out At Karabakh Leader
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - Samvel Shahramanian addresses protesters outside the Karabakh mission
in Yerevan, October 20, 2023.
Armenia’s ruling party lashed out at Nagorno-Karabakh’s exiled president at the
weekend after it emerged that he declared null and void his September 28 decree
liquidating the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Samvel Shahramanian’s decree came just over a week after Azerbaijan’s military
offensive that forced Karabakh’s small army to lay down weapons and restored
Azerbaijani control over the region. Shahramanian said afterwards that he had to
sign the decree in order to stop the hostilities and enable the Karabakh
Armenians to safely flee to Armenia.
Shahramanian’s adviser Vladimir Grigorian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service Friday
that the Karabakh leader invalidated the controversial decree on October 19 and
that that all senior Karabakh officials will keep performing their duties after
January 1 without getting paid.
Shahramanian met with those officials later on Friday. He was reported to tell
them that “there is no document in the legal framework of the Republic of
Artsakh that mandates the dissolution of state institutions.”
Armenia’s political leadership reacted furiously to the development through
senior lawmakers representing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s Civil Contract
party.
“Who is Samvel Shahramanian to sign a decree in Yerevan?” one of them, Artur
Hovannisian, wrote on Facebook. “There is only one government in Armenia. Any
attempt to challenge this will be seen as anti-state activity, outlawed and
prompt the toughest measures from the state.”
Armenia - Deputies from the ruling Civil Contract party talk on the parliament
floor, Yerevan, March 1, 2023.
Hovannisian went on to accuse Karabakh’s Yerevan-based leadership of “trying to
involve Armenia in a new military provocation.”
“Those who signed Karabakh’s capitulation must be aware that any document signed
in Yerevan regarding Karabakh has no legal force,” warned another pro-government
lawmaker, Lilit Minasian.
Gevorg Papoyan, a deputy chairman of Pashinian’s party, labeled Shahramanian as
a “forcibly displaced person” who is no different from the more than 100,000
other Karabakh Armenians who took refuge in Armenia following Azerbaijan’s
recapture of the region.
Armenian opposition representatives as well as some Karabakh figures rejected
the harsh criticism and warnings voiced by Pashinian’s political team. Artak
Beglarian, Karabakh’s former human rights ombudsman, dismissed the Armenian
authorities’ implicit claims that Azerbaijan could use continued activities of
Karabakh bodies as a pretext to attack Armenia as well.
“If you do not allow Artsakh’s state institutions and officials to represent the
rights and interests of their people on various issues while you yourselves are
not going to do it in terms of collective rights, then who should deal with
those issues?” he wrote.
Armenia - Samvel Shahramanian meets other Karabakh officials in Yerevan,
December 22, 2023.
Beglarian also clarified that contrary to what Grigorian said, Shahramanian did
not specifically sign the October 19 decree to scrap his September 28 decision.
He suggested that the Karabakh leader simply made clear that he had no legal
authority to disband the unrecognized republic and its government bodies.
The Shahramanian aide resigned shortly after his interview with RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service. He gave no clear reason for the decision, saying only that his
comments “do not reflect any official position at this point.”
Even before those comments, Pashinian’s allies said that Karabakh government
bodies should be dissolved. Parliament speaker Alen Simonian claimed on November
16 that they would pose a “direct threat to Armenia’s security.”
In its December 10 statement, the Karabakh legislature balked at attempts to
“finally close the Artsakh issue” while signaling its desire to discuss them
with Pashinian’s government.
Pashinian Ends Boycott Of Ex-Soviet Summits
• Shoghik Galstian
Russia - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian arrives in St. Petersburg,
.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian flew to Saint Petersburg on Monday to meet with
the leaders of Russia and other ex-Soviet states after boycotting their previous
summits amid Yerevan’s rising tensions with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted later in the day a meeting of the
leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member states. He is due to chair
on Tuesday a separate summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a
larger and looser grouping of ex-Soviet republics.
Pashinian skipped EEU and CIS gatherings held in Kyrgyzstan in early October. He
went on to boycott a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit held
in Belarus’s capital Minsk in late November.
Other Armenian officials have also boycotted high-level CSTO meetings held in
recent months. One of them, parliament speaker Alen Simonian, has not ruled out
the possibility of Armenia’s exit from Russian-led military alliance accused by
Yerevan of not honoring its security commitments. Pashinian’s government has
said, though, that it is not yet considering such an option.
Kyrgyzstan - The leaders of Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) countries pose for a group photo at a summit in Bishkek, October 13, 2023.
Speaking during a December 14 news conference, Putin suggested that Armenia is
not planning to quit the CSTO and attributed Yerevan’s boycott of the
organization to internal “processes” taking place in the South Caucasus country.
And he again blamed Pashinian’s government for the recent Azerbaijani takeover
of Nagorno-Karabakh and the exodus of its ethnic Armenian population. Pashinian
hit back at Putin a few days later.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated on Monday that the two leaders will
meet on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg summits. The Armenian government
did not comment on Pashinian’s decision to attend them.
Simonian said on December 15 that Armenia should not leave the EEU or the CIS.
He pointed to its economic dependence on Russia and described the CIS as a
“platform for cooperation that benefits our country.”
Armen Baghdasarian, a veteran political analyst, believes that Yerevan’s current
foreign policy is contradictory and not realistic even if Pashinian has reason
to be unhappy with Russia and other ex-Soviet allies.
“You can’t be part of one bloc for economic reasons but see solutions to your
security problems in another security system,” Baghdasarian told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service. “That’s not possible. You can’t simultaneously sit on two
chairs.”
“Armenia has previously made such attempts and their results were disastrous,”
he said.
Yerevan Decries ‘Attempts To Politicize’ Russian-Led Trade Bloc
Russia - President Vladimir Putin greets Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian
during an EEU summit, St. Petersburg, .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian spoke out against what he called attempts to use
the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) for “geopolitical” purposes when he addressed
a summit of the leaders of the Russian-led trade bloc in Saint Petersburg on
Monday.
Citing its founding treaty signed by Russia, Armenia and three other ex-Soviet
states in 2013, Pashinian said that the EEU must not have a “political and
especially geopolitical agenda.”
“We continue to regard [the EEU] as such and to develop partnership within the
framework of our economic cooperation in this context, seeking to thwart all
attempts to politicize Eurasian integration,” he said. “The EEU and its economic
principles must not correlate with political ambitions.”
“The basic freedoms of trade and integration cannot and must not be limited due
to political considerations. This would definitely lead to an erosion of the
fundamental principles of the union,” he added during the summit hosted by
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Pashinian did not elaborate on his trade-related concerns voiced amid
unprecedented tensions between his government and Moscow that have deepened
further since beginning of September. The two sides have repeated traded
accusations, raising questions about the future of Armenia’s traditionally close
relationship with Russia. In the meantime, Yerevan has sought closer ties with
the United States and the European Union.
Citing food safety concerns, a Russian government agency blocked last month the
import of many food products from Armenia for more than a week. The
Rosselkhoznadzor agricultural watchdog alleged a sharp increase in the presence
of “harmful quarantined organisms” in them.
Observers believe that Moscow thus underlined its strong economic leverage
against Armenia to warn Pashinian against further reorienting the country
towards the West.
Russia has long been the main export market for Armenian agricultural products,
prepared foodstuffs and alcoholic drinks. Their exports totaled roughly $960
million in January-October 2023.
Armenia’s overall trade with Russia has skyrocketed since the Russian invasion
of Ukraine and the resulting barrage of Western sanctions against Moscow.
Armenian entrepreneurs have taken advantage of those sanctions, re-exporting
various goods manufactured in Western countries to Russia. This is the main
reason why Armenian exports to Russia tripled in 2022 and nearly doubled to $2.6
billion in January-September 2023
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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20:20,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Ten people were killed and nine were seriously wounded in a shooting on Thursday at Charles University in central Prague, Czech emergency services said. The shooter, who was not immediately identified by officials, also died, the New York Times reports.
According to the source, the police said the shooter had been “eliminated’’.
Armenia's possible exit from the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is being discussed more and more actively as differences grow between Yerevan and Moscow.
Many in Armenia are wondering what the point is of remaining in a military alliance that has demonstrated its unwillingness to protect the country.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly denied claims, including by Russian officials, of an imminent change in Armenia's foreign policy vector, but that has not stopped speculation as to how the country might leave the CSTO and what would come next. Representatives of the authorities are themselves musing about this prospect.
"There is of course the idea of Euro-integration in Armenia, but there is also the idea of becoming a country with non-bloc status, so there's a wide range of options. We are listening to civil society and trying to figure out what the best tools are for ensuring Armenia's security and development," Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said at a forum in Brussels on November 10 titled, The Strategic Future of Armenia: Armenia-Europe.
Fifteen Armenian public organizations recently released a statement criticizing Russia for, as they put it, interfering in Armenia's internal affairs. The statement demands that the Armenian government expel Russia's 102nd military base, ban Russian broadcast media, and begin the process of ending the country's membership in the CSTO.
Growing dissatisfaction with Russia
The CSTO, which also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus, is one of the main causes of the growing Armenian resentment toward Russia.
The bloc, which is, theoretically, bound to come to the aid of a member state when it is attacked, took practically no action in September last year when Azerbaijani troops invaded border areas and took up positions on strategic heights inside Armenia.
Since then, Armenia's approach to the CSTO, and to Russia, has been increasingly confrontational. Yerevan has reduced its participation in the bloc to an absolute minimum. Over the past year, it has snubbed CSTO meetings at practically every level and has reassigned its representative in the organization to other work and left his post vacant.
At the same time, Armenia has welcomed more intensive cooperation with the EU, which at the start of this year deployed a civilian monitoring mission to the Azerbaijani border with the aim of supporting stability there.
This step elicited a sharply negative reaction from the Russian authorities, who claimed the mission's purpose was to "confront Russia geopolitically" in the South Caucasus region.
Such rhetoric from Moscow has done nothing to stop the growing cooperation between Yerevan and Brussels, including in the military sphere.
At the summit of EU foreign ministers on December 11, it was announced that the EU would review the possibility of rendering military aid to Armenia through the European Peace Fund.
It was also announced that the EU mission in Armenia would increase the number of its monitors from 138 to 209.
Another sore spot for Armenia is Russia's alleged failure to deliver weapons that Yerevan says it paid millions of dollars for.
The Armenian authorities have no plans to sue Russia and instead seek to solve the matter in an "atmosphere of partnership," Deputy Defence Minister Hrachya Sargsyan told a briefing on December 4.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently proposed resolving the dispute through Russia canceling part of Yerevan's overall debt to Moscow. That total debt amounts to about $280 million, according to the Armenian Finance Ministry's latest calculations. (Armenia has not released precise figures on how much money Russia owes it for undelivered weapons.)
Scenarios for leaving the CSTO
Most of the analysts Eurasianet spoke to see Armenia exiting the CSTO as a logical possible outcome of the current strained relations between Armenia and Russia.
The head of the Research Center on Security Policy in Yerevan, Areg Kochinyan, says that Armenia could withdraw from the CSTO after approving a national security strategy that stipulates "non-bloc status" for the country. A new national security strategy is currently being drafted, and it's unknown now whether it will contain such a provision.
If the national security strategy were amended so, "It would mean that Armenia has decided not to participate in any military bloc or alliance and therefore it would have to leave the CSTO. But at the same time it would mean that the country would not seek to become part of any other collective defense bloc," Kochinyan told Eurasianet. "I think this position would be more acceptable for Russia and the other regional powers, Iran and Turkey."
Yerevan-based political analyst David Arutyunov doesn't find it difficult to imagine Armenia leaving the CSTO.
"In the context of the whole scope of Armenia's close relations with Russia, including in the economic sphere and the presence of the Russian military base here, leaving the CSTO is a relatively easy matter," Arutyunov told Eurasianet, adding that another crisis could provide the final impetus for quitting the bloc.
He said the Armenian authorities have deftly managed to achieve domestic political aims by directing public discontent over the country's security problems towards Russia and the CSTO.
"If something like the crisis of September 2022 happens again and causes internal political ructions in Armenia, it's possible that the Armenian government will resort to leaving the CSTO" in a bid to deflect criticism.
What might Armenia's "non-bloc status" mean?
Areg Kochinyan, of the Research Center on Security Policy, believes that a "non-bloc status" could open up opportunities for expanding Armenia's defense and military-industrial cooperation with various countries.
"We're talking not just about the West, but also other countries like India, that produce weapons. Armenia can enhance its relations with them even to the level of strategic partnership," he said.
David Arutyunov believes that it's too early to speak about any real prospect of Armenia being outside of any military-political alliances.
"For now all this talk is theoretical. There are no real discussions on realizing this in practice. And even so, the talk pertains to the CSTO specifically, while bilateral relations with Russia will remain in any case – alongside contacts with the West," Arutyunov said.
The head of the Armenian Institute for Resilience and Statecraft, Gevorg Melikyan, is doubtful that the Armenian authorities really intend to leave the CSTO and declare non-bloc status.
"I don't see any such clear policy or strategy. For now, it's a matter of the Armenian government's desire to make an impression on Western partners to extract some kind of security guarantees. Since there are none [such guarantees], the Armenian government will try to convince Western partners to treat Armenia like they would treat any other anti-Russian country and not accuse it of maintaining contacts with Russia in the security sphere because it remains in the CSTO," Melikyan told Eurasianet.