CSTO Can Have Both Observers and Partners, National Assembly

The National Assembly of Armenia has approved a draft law regarding the addition of partner status in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The bill on ratifying the third protocol on amendments to the CSTO charter, originally dated October 7, 2002, was passed during a session held on September 11.

"This protocol addresses the issue that CSTO can have both observers and partners. Previously, there was a provision that allowed for an observer, which was not clearly defined. A proposal was made to establish a higher status than an observer, which is the status of a partner. There is a distinction between an observer and a partner. A partner is a state that is interested in deepening its relations with the CSTO and its member states, sharing the organization’s ideologies and approaches," stated the main rapporteur, Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan.