Azerbaijan does not meet CSTO member or observer standards

During the briefing with reporters on September 13, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan addressed Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov’s statement on Azerbaijan’s observer status in the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

During the press conference in Yerevan on September 12, Yuri Borisov noted (video 5:37 – 7:07) that Russia is not against Azerbaijan having observer status in the CSTO.

In response to the statement of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Anna Naghdalyan noted that the CSTO Charter sets the standards that both observer and partner states shall meet, and Azerbaijan does not meet those standards.

“The state intending to be an observer shall have diplomatic relations with all CSTO member states. Moreover, the state intending to be an observer shall support exclusively peaceful resolution of conflicts. As for partner status, it again shall have diplomatic relations with all CSTO member states, no conflicts with other states/ state, and no territorial disputes”, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said. (16։04-17։03)

The Fact Investigation Platform decided to check whether Anna Naghdalyan’s comment is in line with the CSTO Charter.

Article 11 (1.3) of the CSTO Charter defines which country can get observer status.

In October and November 2018, Russia proposed to amend Article 11 (1.3 ) of the Agreement on the Legal Status of the Collective Security Treaty dated October 7, 2002, which specifies who may acquire a CSTO observer or partner status.

Thus, the state which intends to receive observer status shall:

․ Be member of United Nations Organization,

․ Have diplomatic relations with all CSTO member states,

․ Support exclusively peaceful resolution of conflicts,

• Follow international regime of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
• Act in good faith in accordance with the CSTO Charter,
• Follow general principles and norms.

The aforementioned criteria are also set for the CSTO partner status, but two more are added: the state shall not have territorial issues with neighboring countries and there shall be no armed conflicts within the state.

Thus, MFA spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan’s comment is in line with the CSTO Charter.

Sona Mkrtchyan