Armenia stands good chance to gain political weight in the region

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's new defense concept states that Moscow views the CSTO as a key tool to maintain stability and security throughout the CIS, an Armenian expert said.



"The CSTO will become the basis for allied relations. This choice is quite understandable, given Russia's leading role in the Organization," Sergei Sargsyan, an expert at Spectrum strategic analysis center told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.



"As to Armenia, despite the perspective to develop relations with NATO, the CSTO is the only bloc where the republic acts as a full-fledged member. Armenia's membership in the CSTO is one the major factors determining efficiency if its armed forces. It allows Armenia to buy military equipment and armament at a moderate price," he said.



Armenia stands a good chance to gain political weight in the region, according to Sargsyan.



Commenting on the possibility of resumption of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh, he said, "I do not think that hostilities will go beyond the borders of the former Azeri SSR. However, Armenia will receive assistance from Russia while other CSTO member states will apparently take a neutral stand, owing to economic reasons."