ArmInfo. The issue of adjusting the CSTO budget in connection with Armenia's freezing of part of the
contribution was agreed upon within the organization. Russia's permanent representative to this organization, Viktor Vasiliev, reported this to RIA Novosti.
"If we take the budget of this year, 2024, then this issue has been
agreed upon," he said, answering the question whether the fate of the
organization's budget is being discussed in connection with Yerevan's
decision to freeze its contribution. "At meetings of the Permanent
Council and within the framework of meetings of the three statutory
bodies of the CSTO in Almaty, recommendations have already been
adopted to adjust the Organization's budget for this year," the
permanent representative added. The recommendations, he said, were
submitted for signing by the leaders of the countries in a working
order.
Vasiliev also noted that "the situation is truly non-standard, given
the statements of the Armenian side not to pay its contribution this
year." At the same time, he said that Yerevan's decision to freeze
its contribution to the CSTO will not lead to a revision of the
contribution scale; member countries will not pay more. Vasiliev
emphasized that despite Armenia's decision not to pay this year, the
amount of the contribution for 2025 will be calculated and credited
to this country.
According to the CSTO budget, Yerevan was supposed to pay 53.22
million rubles to the Organization this year. Earlier, the press
secretary of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ani Badalyan stated
that Yerevan would refrain from joining the decision of the CSTO
Collective Security Council of November 23, 2023 "On the CSTO budget
for 2024" and participating in the financing of the Organization's
activities provided for by this decision. Armenia suspended its
participation in the CSTO, believing that it had not fulfilled its
obligations to ensure the security of the state.
