Sergei Minasyan: Armenia has no reason to quit CSTO

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia has no reason to quit the Collective Security Treaty Organization, according to expert Sergei Minasyan.

“Formation of rapid reaction force will offer Armenia an opportunity to develop military cooperation with Russia and other CSTO members, specifically Kazakhstan, which holds the OSCE chairmanship and enjoys good relations with Azerbaijan but has to demonstrate a balanced approach to Karabakh issue as a CSTO member,” Minasyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

“As to signature of the protocol on extension of Russian base deployment terms up to 49 years, it proves that Russia is ready to render the essential military assistance to Armenia in case of necessity,” he noted.

“I am not sure whether Russia sold or is going to sell S-300 missiles to Azerbaijan. It should be kept in mind that S-300 is a defense complex which will shoot down Russian aircrafts in case of war,” Minasyan said, adding that Armenian army possesses two S-300 defense complexes while another two are installed at the Russian base in Gyumri.