The Prime Minister today received the heads of CSTO-member states’ delegations in attendance of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Yerevan: Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, RF Federal Council Deputy Speaker Yuri Vorobyov, Kazakh Parliament Lower House Speaker Nurlan Nigmatulin, Kyrgyz Parliament Speaker Dastabek Chumabekov, Tajik Parliament Speaker Shukurjon Chukhurov, and Vladimir Bazanov, Deputy Chairman of Belarusian Parliament House of Representatives National Security Affairs Standing Committee.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Speaker of CSTO Observer State Serbia’s Parliament Djordje Milicevic, Acting CSTO Secretary General Valery Semerikov and Acting Secretary of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Sergey Pospelov.

Welcoming the guests, the Prime Minister said he was happy to hold the first outgoing sitting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Armenia. Highlighting Serbian Parliament Deputy Speaker’s participation in the Yerevan session, the Premier attached importance to the regular meetings held with the Serbian partners within the EAEU and the CSTO.

“Of course, the CSTO is an organization of strategic importance to us. We believe that the CSTO is an important factor to ensure stability and security in our region. We attach great importance to all three dimensions of our cooperation within the CSTO: foreign policy, military-technical cooperation, and of course, our unified approach to common security challenges. Unfortunately, the threats are evolving and changing, and we must be ready to respond adequately. Our organization should comply with the realities we are facing in the region and in the world, and I am very pleased to state that we are engaged in constructive cooperation in a bid to develop the Collective Security Treaty Organization,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Premier stressed that Armenia appreciates the activities of the Parliamentary Assembly, since our country is interested in the harmonization of the laws applicable in member states, which in turn will help enhance the level of interaction and security within the CSTO.

Pleased with the fact that the member states were able to agree on the appointment of the CSTO Secretary General, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that specific amendments need to be made to the CSTO regulations in order to have clear solutions in similar situation and avoid such problems in the future.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed confidence that it will likewise increase the efficiency of the organization. “I think this is a very good opportunity to discuss a common agenda. Our organization’s main idea is that our foreign policy, military-technical relations, and relations in all directions should take into account the interests of all member states, and I think that the relations between our countries should be a priority for all of us. We are committed to developing our relations, and I feel that meetings like this will promote the process,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said.

Thankful for the warm welcome, Vyacheslav Volodin noted that a number of issues related to the development of inter-parliamentary relations, harmonization of laws, joint efforts against the emerging regional challenges were discussed during the Yerevan meeting. Highlighting the need for boosting international cooperation, the Russian State Duma Speaker introduced the steps taken to that end.

The Premier welcomed the idea of expanding the scope of international cooperation and expressed confidence that it would enhance the reputation of the organization. Nikol Pashinyan stressed the importance of providing prompt response to not only existing but also emerging challenges and to systematic interaction within the CSTO. The head of the Armenian government stressed the need for harmonious and constructive cooperation between CSTO-member states on international platforms, taking into account their mutual interests and positions.

The meeting referred to regional issues, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process.