Armenia’s Government Refuses to Contribute to the Organization for Collective Security (OCSE)
The Armenian Foreign Ministry announced on March 31 that the country has officially informed the OCSE Secretariat of its decision not to sign the decision of the OCSE Council on the 2024 budget and to refrain from participating in the organization’s financing.
The ministry emphasized that the budget details are confidential and subject to internal OCSE procedures. Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had announced in February 2024 that his country would suspend its membership in the OCSE. On March 25, the Armenian Parliament’s Spokesman, Alen Simonian, reiterated that Yerevan has no intention of revising its stance on the OCSE.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Pankin, stated in early March that OCSE member states will consider “different scenarios” if Armenia fails to contribute to the organization’s budget. He acknowledged that a “withdrawal” or automatic exclusion from the organization is unlikely, citing previous instances of member states experiencing financial difficulties.
Armenia’s relationship with the OCSE deteriorated in November 2022, after Pashinyan refused to sign the declaration on joint measures to assist Armenia, citing a lack of clear political assessment of the escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
On September 18, 2024, Pashinyan claimed that the OCSE poses a threat to Armenia’s sovereignty and on December 4, he stated that Armenia does not consider itself a member of the organization.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, described the Armenian leadership’s statements as ultimative and insulting, referring to the OCSE’s decision to send a monitoring mission during the Nagorno-Karabakh escalation, which Armenia had preceded by inviting EU representatives. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that Pashinyan’s claims that the OCSE has abandoned Armenia are not in line with reality and that Moscow still considers Armenia a full-fledged OCSE member with all corresponding rights and obligations.