YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–A senior official from the main security body of the Commonwealth of Independent States discussed with Armenian leaders on Friday preparations for an upcoming summit where a revised Collective Security Treaty binding most ex-Soviet republics is due to signed.
Vladimir Zemtsov–secretary of the CIS Collective Security Council–told RFE/RL after talks that he–Prime Minister Aram Sargsyan and President Robert Kocharian’s chief of staff agreed on the agenda of the summit of the signatory-states scheduled for this spring.
Agreement was also reached on "the question of integration and development within the framework of the treaty," Zemtsov said.
Sargsyan described as "extremely important" Armenia’s continued involvement in the CIS security system–his press office reported. The treaty was signed 1992 and obligates the signatories to defend each other in case of external military assault. Some of them–including Ukraine–Georgia and Azerbaijan–have threatened not to renew their participation in the treaty unless serious changes are made in it.
Zemtsov also met on Friday with Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian.