Pashinyan also said Azerbaijan, with which Armenia has fought two wars over the past three decades, was not adhering to the principles needed to clinch a long-term peace treaty and suggested Azerbaijan was preparing to launch another attack.
Pashinyan told France 24 television that the CSTO pact, dominated by Russia, had failed Armenia.
“The Collective Security Treaty has not fulfilled its objectives as far as Armenia is concerned, particularly in 2021 and 2022. And we could not let that happen without taking notice,” Pashinyan said through an interpreter.
“We have now, in practical terms, frozen our participation in this treaty. As for what comes next, we shall have to see,” he added.
He said there was no discussion at the moment about closing a Russian base in Armenia. That was subject to different treaties.
Pashinyan has in recent months expressed discontent with Armenia’s longstanding ties with Russia and said
Armenia could no longer rely on Russia to ensure its defense needs. He had suggested the country’s membership of the CSTO was under review.
Other ex-Soviet members of the CSTO include
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Prospects for long-term peace
In his remarks, Pashinyan said prospects for clinching a long-term peace treaty were hurt by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statements, which Armenia interpreted as laying claim to large parts of Armenian territory.
“If the principles of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders are not recognized by Azerbaijan, it is simply not possible,” he told France 24.
“Azerbaijan is using the situation to feed its rhetoric. That leads one to think that Azerbaijan is getting ready for a new attack on Armenia,” he further added.
Pashinyan and Aliyev have discussed moves towards a peace treaty at several meetings, including discussions last week at the Munich Security Conference.
