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Armenia to consider its national interests in deciding whether to quit CSTO — Pashinyan

The Armenian prime minister said Yerevan will do everything to make its vision as clear as possible to the organization and also understand the CSTO position

YEREVAN, November 24. /TASS/. Armenia will consider its national interests as it decides whether to pull out of the CSTO, said the country’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan.

"We have the political will to make these or other decisions based on Armenia's national interests. The same goes for relations with the CSTO. Why have we not decided to withdraw from the organization or suspend our membership? We will make up our mind based solely on the national interests of our country," Pashinyan said.

The prime minister said Armenia will do everything to make its vision as clear as possible to the organization and also understand the CSTO position.

"And if, while on this path, we believe that all potential has been exhausted, we will have to explain to the public why we remained a part of an organization that gives us nothing or does not give us the minimum that would keep alive our interest in the organization," Pashinyan stated.

He added that Armenia attempted to diversify arms purchases in 2018-2019, but that didn’t work out, as suppliers balked at making sales to a CSTO member. While the country does not get political or other support from the CSTO, it can’t do business with other countries either because of its CSTO membership, so "it is necessary to make decisions based on Armenia's interests," Pashinyan said.