News - Russia MFA spox: We are sorry that Armenia is freezing its activities within CSTO framework

We are sorry for Armenia's continuous freezing or boycott of its activities within the framework of the CSTO. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated this at Wednesday’s press briefing—and commenting on a reporter's question why Armenia treats the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) "differently." "We welcome Armenia's active participation in the EAEU... We are sorry for Armenia's continuous freeze or boycott of its activities within the CSTO. The country itself should decide what is important for it, what it needs. We simply consider that the CSTO is as useful in the security sector as the EAEU is in the economic sector, and we do not see any obstacles to cooperation with Armenia within the framework of these two organizations,” Zakharova said. But the Russian MFA spox reiterated that this is a matter of national policy of the given country, like any sovereign state.