Aravot asked the ARF faction leader if it is possible for a scenario to develop that Armenia is removed from the CSTO and Azerbaijan takes its place. Rustamyan responded that such evaluations are insulting towards the co-chairs of the CSTO member states: “People will say that others swear in our name, why are you insulting us?”
According to Rustamyan, it is unnecessary to pour water on an enemy nation’s watermills and weaken our positions that way. “If that scenario takes place and Azerbaijan replaces Armenia, are we going to benefit? We said something and got all emotional. What’s the purpose of that? Foreign policy is a sensitive art, and everything that is said needs to be formulated and measured correctly.”
When asked about how the rules can be changed to solve the issue and what position Putin is expected to take since he is being silent, Rustamyan said that the rules in the CSTO cannot change because everything is decided in a consensus. “They cannot pass over Armenia. Armenia has its role and has the right to voice its opinion. As far as Putin goes, he is carrying himself correctly in this argument and is not trying to pick sides. There needs to be a judge. It’s obvious that the CSTO, as a moving force, has Russia, and whenever a disagreement takes place, there needs to be someone who has the right to make a critical statement through having positive relations with everyone. Putin is not getting involved with this argument because he believes that everything has its time and place.”
Hripsime Jebejyan
