Lavrov Raises Concerns Over Alarming Attacks on Church in Armenia

CHOLPON ATA, Kyrgyzstan (Sputnik) - Armenia's current situation is the country's internal affair, but attacks on the church are very concerning, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned on Monday.
"It is clear that this is an internal matter for our neighbors, but, of course, attacks on the canonical thousand-year-old Armenian Apostolic Church are of grave concern. The Church has always been one of the key pillars of Armenian society, and we would very much not like this Church to be subjected to unjustified attacks without any serious grounds," Lavrov told journalists following the CSTO Foreign Ministers' Council meeting.

Russia is interested in the situation in Armenia being resolved as soon as possible, the minister added.
Armenia is still considered a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but this implies compliance with all the organization's obligations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added.
"We have taken note that the foreign minister [of Armenia] has again refused to come to this event. We still consider Armenia a full member of this organization, but, of course, full membership implies participation and compliance with all obligations that follow from the statutory documents of the CSTO, including, by the way, the payment of dues," Lavrov told journalists following the CSTO Foreign Ministers' Council meeting.
Moscow expects clarity on all issues from Yerevan, but if it turns away from its allies, it is unlikely to benefit the people, the minister cautioned.
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