Azerbaijani leader: No one will remember CSTO, if Russia isn't in it

“I think it is an open secret that Russia has a leading role in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said during his official visit to the Russian Federation, where he met with the heads of leading Russian media outlets on February 23, Report informs.

"This has recently been demonstrated in the CIS and was clear to everyone even before the events in Kazakhstan. Allied relations with the Russian Federation, as well as 2 of the 43 paragraphs - paragraphs 6 and 16 - are a direct indication of the provision of military assistance in case of need. In my opinion, this is enough. After all, it is clear that the CSTO exists unless Russia is in it. If Russia is not in the CSTO, no one will remember the CSTO,” the head of state said.

“Everything stems from this. A step has already been taken to increase the level of military-political cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan. With the exception of Armenia, we have very reliable, close and friendly relations with other members of the CSTO. In my opinion, after the end of the Second Karabakh War, relations with Armenia will normalize. In any case, we have officially stated our desire to conclude a peace agreement with Armenia,” the Azerbaijani president added.