Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, believes that Yerevan should continue cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

"As for the CIS, we [Armenia] can and should be active because it is also a platform for cooperation, which gives benefit our state, as well as economically. In connection with the EAEU [(Eurasian Economic Union)], we are in one economic zone, and our economy is quite connected with that economy," Simonyan told the RFE/RL Armenian Service.

But as for the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the legislature speaker said that the CSTO has proved several times that it "committed criminal inaction against the Republic of Armenia."

"We [Armenia] didn't expect that the CSTO servicemen would come and shoot at Azerbaijanis. But we should have seen at least a political assessment; and we didn't see that," Simonyan said.

"We defend only the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and pursue only the interest of the Republic of Armenia. If it is in the interest of the Republic of Armenia to make any turn, that turn will be made. And if such a decision is made, the people of the Republic of Armenia will know about it," Simonyan said, adding that these organizations are not being torpedoed in any way at the moment.

"But at the same time, I apologize. After the steps, the inaction that our partners showed and, in my assessment, continue to show, pursuing their own interests as well, enables us to similarly pursue our interests," concluded the speaker of the parliament of Armenia.

18 December 2023 / 12:01