YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. A country that wants to receive a status of an observer or partner country in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) must have diplomatic relations with all member states of the Organization, Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan said during today’s press briefing, commenting on the statement of Russian deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov according to which Russia doesn’t oppose granting a status to Azerbaijan in the CSTO.

Naghdalyan said the ministry has seen that comment over the status of an observer or partner country and can state that there is a CSTO Charter which clearly mentions the criteria necessary both for the observer and the partner.

“In particular, a state wishing a status of an observer must have diplomatic relations with all member states of the CSTO. Moreover, a state wishing a status of an observer should support exclusively peaceful settlement of international disputes and conflicts. But as for the status of a partner, like in the observer’s case, again that country should have diplomatic relations with all CSTO member states, should not have conflicts with other states or a state and territorial disputes with the neighbors”, the Armenian MFA spokesperson said.

She highlighted that there is a Charter, there are clearly defined provisions and the CSTO principle according to which decisions are made based on consensus, therefore, without Armenia’s approval, any comment, opinion or position will remain as such.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan