In the framework of the session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers on June 20, Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, received Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member states. During the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan informed participants about the recent developments in the region, in particular, on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Minister Mirzoyan, recalling once again Azerbaijan's continuous occupation of the sovereign territory of Armenia, a CSTO member state, touched upon Azerbaijan's ongoing aggressive actions against the sovereign territory of Armenia and internationally recognized borders, as well as targeting Armenian positions and civilian objects on the border with Armenia in recent days. He also emphasized their destabilizing influence on regional stability and security. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the imperative of the CSTO's targeted response.
The Foreign Minister of Armenia also touched upon the tense situation in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh, including Azerbaijan’s provocations in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, the incident at the Hakari Bridge on June 15, as well as the humanitarian issues resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor which lasts more than six months, as well as the increasing danger of ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan.
Minister Mirzoyan stressed that the mentioned actions of Azerbaijan are aimed at disrupting the efforts to achieve stability in the South Caucasus made not only by Armenia, but also by all parties, interested in ensuring stability and predictability in the region.
Presenting the vision of the Armenian side aimed at establishing lasting peace in the region, Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the importance of renouncing the use of force or threat of use of force, solving existing problems through constructive dialogue, as well as, among other issues, addressing the rights and security issues of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Afterwards, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the session of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers in narrow and enlarged formats.
The issues on the agenda of the session, including the CSTO activities and regional developments, were discussed.
In the narrow format session of the CSTO Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan again touched upon the latest developments in the South Caucasus, emphasizing that against the background of the escalation of conflicts with the use of force and the unstable situation in the South Caucasus, it is becoming more obvious that the unconditional fulfillment of treaty obligations, proper conclusions of the CSTO and clear assessments of gross violations on the borders of Armenia are of great importance.
