CSTO Secretary General: Armenia to Decide on Pashinyan's Participation in 2024 Summit

The decision on whether Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will participate in the 2024 Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit is up to Armenia, a sovereign and independent country, according to CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov. In recent months, Armenia has repeatedly not attended meetings of some CSTO integration formats, with Pashinyan announcing that the country has frozen its participation in the organization.

Tasmagambetov noted that there is still time before the 2024 summit and a lot can change in the coming months, hopefully for the better. "The participation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the 2024 CSTO summit is a decision for Armenia as a sovereign and independent country," he stated. The CSTO Secretary General's comments confirm Armenia's continued engagement with the organization, despite the country's recent decisions to not attend certain CSTO events.

Relations between the CSTO and Armenia, a member state, are not going through the best period, Tasmagambetov acknowledged. However, he confirmed that Armenia's activities in the CSTO continue, and all matters on the agenda are resolved in a working order. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had previously noted that Armenia itself was unable to define the CSTO zone of responsibility on the country's territory.

The CSTO Secretariat is currently holding an annual training meeting for representatives of ministries and departments of the CSTO member states without military status in Moscow. The organization, with a more than 30-year history, is actively developing external relations with international bodies like the UN, CIS, and SCO.

Why this matters: Armenia's strained relationship with the CSTO has implications for regional security dynamics, particularly in light of ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The CSTO's ability to effectively respond to crises and maintain stability among its member states is being tested.

Tasmagambetov emphasized that the CSTO Secretariat is observing the escalation in the Middle East and the risks of conflict expansion with alarm and concern. The organization stands ready to provide the tools at its disposal to resolve conflicts if there is a corresponding request and mandate. "The stability in the region depends more on the prospects of signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan," he stated, underscoring the importance of diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace.

Key Takeaways

• CSTO Secretary General says Armenia's PM participation in 2024 summit is Armenia's decision.
• Armenia has recently not attended some CSTO integration meetings, freezing its participation.
• CSTO-Armenia relations are strained, but Armenia's activities in CSTO continue, says Secretariat.
• CSTO is concerned about escalation in Middle East, ready to help resolve conflicts if requested.
• Lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is crucial for regional stability, per CSTO.