The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit, a Russian-led security grouping of six former Soviet states that also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, will be held in Yerevan on November 23. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed an upcoming summit in a phone call, the Armenian leader's press office reported on November 16. The sides discussed issues related to the summit and the agenda of Putin’s visit to Armenia on November 22.
The CSTO leaders, among others, will discuss international and regional security issues. “The improvement of the crisis response system and the joint measures to assist Armenia will be high on the agenda," the CSTO press release said. "The CSC meeting agenda includes the signing of several documents, including those on the provision of peacekeeping forces with advanced weapons, military and special hardware, the joint formation of radiation, chemical and biological protection and medical support in the CSTO, and the status of a regional antiterrorism operation for operative and preventive measures. The CSTO budget for 2023 will be discussed as well," it added.
On the sidelines of the CSTO summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend a two-day joint meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers and Council of Defense Ministers. Lavrov will discuss the military-political situation in the region. "The meeting participants will consider a solid package of decisions regarding foreign policy, military, and antiterrorism cooperation within the organization, aimed at strengthening and further developing the CSTO security system," the ministry statement read.
During his speech at the National Assembly on November 16, the Armenian PM expressed hope that the CSTO would take a clear stance on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border crisis. “The position of Armenia is clear. Azerbaijani troops must withdraw from the occupied territories of Armenia to the positions that existed before May 11, 2021. In fact, the international community supports this position. We expect that the CSTO will also favor this position. I hope we will take this decision by consensus during the CSTO summit," the PM said.
