Within framework of CSTO, obligations towards Armenia remain unchanged: Russia's MFA

Avoiding partnership with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) weakens Armenia's national security significantly, Mikael Aghasandyan, Director of the First CIS Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said in an interview with RIA Novosti. According to him, at the moment there is no alternative provider of stability in Armenia other than CSTO. "Currently, there is a tendency in Armenia to avoid cooperation with the CSTO. Such stance of theirs is contrary to the interests of the Armenian people. Because this approach weakens the country’s national security. No alternative provider of stability exists in Armenia other than the CSTO and Russia. The mutual obligations agreed upon within the CSTO framework also remain unchanged." Participation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is beneficial for Yerevan. And Moscow hopes that Yerevan will not abandon the EAEU because of the US and the European Union (EU), which only promise investments and a "bright future." Mikael Aghasandyan, Director of the First CIS Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated this in an interview with RIA Novosti. "The relations between Moscow and Yerevan within the framework of EAEU are based on mutually beneficial cooperation. There is no need to be an expert or a politician in order to see that the union is clearly beneficial for Yerevan. It is mainly due to this [that] the economic growth in Armenia shows a respectable positive dynamics," Aghasandyan said.