News - Armenia deputy FM: At this phase we have no issue of removing Russian military base, leaving CSTO

At this phase and at this moment, issues of removing the Russian military base from Armenia or withdrawing Armenia from the CSTO are not on Armenia’s agenda. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan announced this on Thursday, during a briefing with reporters, and commenting on the concerns voiced by Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin that in the near future there will be the matters of withdrawal of the Russian military base from Gyumri, Armenia, as well as the latter’s leaving the CSTO and EAEU. "They are working relations. Naturally, there are disagreements on some issues; we continue to work on addressing, responding to them," said the Armenian official, responding to a reporter's question about the current status of Armenian-Russian relations, also considering the mutual criticisms voiced by various Armenian and Russian officials. Deputy FM Safaryan noted that Armenia makes the decision to participate in various events of the CSTO in accordance with expediency. And regarding the statements made by Russia that Armenia is changing its political vector, the Armenian official said: "Those are their views; we have informed about our views in that regard."