MINSK. Dec 14 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says he does not understand why Armenia is against the Belarusian candidate for the post of secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
"It's a shame we have been unable to elect the CSTO chief executive," Lukashenko told Russian journalists in Minsk on Friday.
The Armenian government should meet the other CSTO countries halfway, as it was Yerevan that involved the organization in its domestic problems, he said.
"I am giving you the active state secretary, a young general [Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Stanislav Zas]. He is smart, experienced, and knows how staffs work. He is also the state secretary, and all the presidents know him," Lukashenko said.
"I am taking this step in order to keep appointing active and talented generals to highlight the significance of the CSTO," he said.
He said he proposed that Zas visit every CSTO country, including Armenia. "If you are ready to receive and listen to him. [...] You do not have to accept [this candidate], you can stick to your principles. But you should talk to him. He may suit your needs better than any Armenian. Why are you afraid of Belarusians? We are friends," Lukashenko said.
The position of secretary general became vacant after Armenia recalled its representative, Yury Khachaturov, halfway into his three-year tenure. Russia's Valery Semerikov, the deputy secretary general, was appointed acting secretary general.