V. Shirkhanyan: "There is no menace for Armenia"
Serzh Sargsyan has insured himself against foreign powers by participating in the Moscow-hosted CSTO sitting, says former deputy minister Vahan Shirkhanyan.
On December 20, the heads of CSTO member states adopted a Declaration in Moscow which envisages that member countries should be given official approval to deploy armed forces or military units of non-member countries in their territory.
"I see no menace for Armenia, since there is a Russian military base in our country. The declaration refers to the deployment of new bases," said Mr. Shirkhanyan.
He does not share the opinion that the declaration might affect the negotiations over the Karabakh peace deal.
"If there is a need for deploying peacekeeping forces in the territory of Karabakh, specifically along the line of contact, then the sides should get the consent of all CSTO member states. One of the countries will undoubtedly oppose to this undesirable decision and speed up its failure," he said."
The CSTO is a regional security organization whose seven member states are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Vahan Shirkhanyan is convinced that before giving his consent Serzh Sargsyan took into account the Karabakh problem.
