STO leaders may decide on Armenia’s membership on November 11

The heads of state of the CSTO may decide on Armenia’s membership at the upcoming session of the Collective Security Council on November 11, Taalatbek Masadykov, the CSTO secretary general, told TASS.

Speaking about the possibility of Yerevan leaving the organization, the secretary general said that “if this issue is brought before a meeting of the Collective Security Council, it may happen.” “A proposal is usually put forward either by the chairing country or by another country, that is, by a head of state or members of the Collective Security Council.

What is happening de facto can be considered as falling under Article 25 of the Charter of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which means that when membership fees are not paid and quota positions are not filled, there is no right to vote,” he added.

“It seems Armenia isn’t taking part in discussions. It seems they aren’t participating. But Armenia’s representative attends the weekly meetings of the Permanent Council, where the permanent representatives of the CSTO member states sit. Armenia’s representative listens and probably reports back to their capital on what we discuss and what decisions are made, and moreover on all the issues we discuss and the possible decisions,” Masadykov said.

The next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will be held in Moscow on November 11.