Normalization of relations between Yerevan and Ankara will not negatively affect Armenia’s relations with Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) partners, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told “Krasnaya Gazeta”. According to him, Armenia chairing the organization in 2008 “obtained a lot of achievements, as the country’s leadership is focused on and deeply interested in cooperation within the CSTO framework.” Bordyuzha said good-neighborly relations mitigate crisis risks, smooth over contradictions and assist the peaceful development of the states.

He declared that CSTO military group might be deployed in Central Asian region. “We say that we need a large military alignment [there] — such as the Russia-Belarus one comprising units, elements, that is components capable of withstanding the attacks. Russian-Armenian regional troops are deployed in Caucasian region and there is a need of such in the Central Asia too,” stated Bordyuzha.

He has not specified the dates when the troops will be formed. “It is not always possible to tell the precise date as the endorsement is underway. We cannot present a document to the Presidents till it conforms requirements of all member-states,” CSTO Secretary General pointed out.

Bordyuzha commented also on the organization’s relations with NATO. “There are no official contacts between CSTO and NATO due to the latter’s position. Many times we have proposed to set up cooperation in such topical issues as Afghan drug trafficking and counteraction against terrorism.” CSTO Secretary General hopes that the vision of CSTO-NATO cooperation will develop once the Alliance leadership is changed in Brussels. He assumes there is a need for such cooperation. “However, there were no signals on it from the Alliance HQ in Brussels yet. We are no more initiating the issue. There were lots of proposals in due time,” he concluded.