We don’t need to be threatened with withdrawal from the CSTO, they want to remove us, let them remove us. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during a press briefing after the Armenian government’s Cabinet meeting on Thursday, responding to Armenian News-NEWS.am’s question about what Armenia ultimately wants in terms of withdrawing from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and removing the Russian military base from Armenia, since the Armenian side states, “If you want to remove [us], remove [us], if you want to remove the base, remove [it].”

“Isn’t that an opinion? It’s also interesting that there are clichés of opinion that Armenia should have such an opinion (...). Our [i.e. Armenia’s] opinion is that if they want to remove us, let them remove [us]. If they don’t want to remove [us], let them not remove [us]. We have never put the issue of the Russian military base operating in Armenia up for discussion. Now Russia has put it up for discussion, and we are taking a position on that discussion,” Pashinyan said.

“(...) [if] they want to remove [it], let them remove [it]. I say that the [Russian] 102nd Military Base [in Gyumri] and the events of September 2022 have shown that it is of no vital importance for the security of Armenia. Now they [i.e. Russia] have put that issue up for discussion; very well, respect. There has not been a single case of any of our officials putting such a question or raising such a question before any Russian officials,” the Armenian premier noted.

 “We have not spoken about that topic publicly either. Now if they decide to remove it, we will not object. I am saying straight away that the presence of the 102nd Military Base does not add anything to Armenia’s security. We saw this during the events of September 2022,” Pashinyan said.

“We do not need the military base. Russia is our friendly country, if they want to remove [it], let them remove [it], let them remove [it] tomorrow. If they want to stay, we are ready to discuss the conditions for the base—which we do not need—to remain in the Republic of Armenia,” the Armenian PM concluded.