Kremlin ready to discuss Armenia's CSTO membership with Yerevan

MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax) - Moscow is ready for dialogue with Yerevan on Armenia's future membership of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) both within the CSTO framework and on a bilateral basis, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Journalists asked Peskov to comment on a statement made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikolai Pashinyan on Monday, according to which Armenia will withdraw from the CSTO unless it receives satisfactory answers to its questions, including regarding the CSTO's zone of responsibility in Armenia. "Indeed, we have heard those statements. Obviously, extensive work needs to be done, and we are due to have contacts with our Armenian partners, both within the CSTO framework and at the bilateral level. We will clarify things and will talk in view of the statements made by Mr. Prime Minister," Peskov said.

As to whether Moscow deems an urgent CSTO summit to be necessary and how the CSTO views Pashinyan's statements, Peskov said, "You should ask the CSTO, we cannot speak on the CSTO's behalf."