We Have No Time or Space to Wait, Enough Waiting. Alen Simonian on CSTO

“For me, it doesn’t matter. I need to ensure that no soldier from another CSTO member state crosses the border of Armenia,” said Alen Simonian, the Chairman of the National Assembly, during a press briefing with journalists in parliament on October 6, addressing concerns about Armenia negotiating with Azerbaijan primarily through Western intermediaries and whether this could provoke Russia's jealousy.

“For me, it doesn’t matter if it’s based on jealousy or agreements. I have a rhetorical question: Imagine if some imaginary adversary crossed the border of the Russian Federation and because of that, Sochi was evacuated. Can you imagine that situation? Our country's security and territorial integrity are what matters,” he stated.

“We must compel the CSTO to function; if this mechanism does not work, it is natural that we turn to the mechanisms we are currently employing. We have brought it to a point where a statement is made, and a political assessment is sounded. Now we are waiting at least for that political assessment. But at the same time, that is not enough for us. We will not wait to ensure our country's security, because we do not have the time, the space, or the opportunities to wait. Enough waiting,” he concluded.