The issue of depriving Armenia of voting rights in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) may be discussed at the organization’s summit scheduled for November 11. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said this, TASS reports.
“Any decision concerning the possible application of restrictive measures against one of the organization’s members falls entirely within the competence of the Collective Security Council, which comprises the heads of CSTO member states and is authorized to make such decisions on the basis of the organization’s Charter. As for your question, the applicable provisions are contained, in particular, in Articles 20 and 25. The Council’s next meeting will be held in Moscow on November 11,” he said, responding to a question about applying the relevant Charter article concerning failure to fulfill obligations.
According to Galuzin, the CSTO Charter is an international treaty that must be implemented in good faith by all parties, including the obligation of each member state to contribute to financing the activities of CSTO bodies.
“Yerevan’s refusal to participate in the organization’s work and its failure to sign annual decisions concerning its budget merely mean that it is not exercising a right it possesses, but do not terminate Armenia’s obligations to make its national contribution on time.
“Based on the principle of maintaining institutional effectiveness, any international organization has procedures stipulated by its founding documents for such cases. The CSTO is no exception,” the Russian deputy foreign minister said.
