Armenia is interested in keeping its cooperation with Russia at a high level, Armenian defense minister Suren Papikyan told a press conference Wednesday.

But when we talk about the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the events of 2020, objective questions arise that must be answered as a result of healthy discussions, added the Armenian defense minister.

He emphasized, however, that Armenia has not canceled any document of bilateral cooperation with Russia.

"We [i.e. Armenia] have not even officially canceled our membership in the CSTO, but in fact, we do not have any participation in that organization, and it is not our fault that the CSTO is not in Armenia now. But I must note that when we talk about bilateral cooperation, it should be balanced, based on mutual respect," said Papikyan.

And when asked whether there were any prerequisites for the aforesaid, the Armenian defense minister noted that the prerequisites are not one-sided, and they are not done on TV broadcast, but must be sound.