CSTO to send a mission to Yerevan to assess situation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Sep 2022 08:50
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Following escalating tensions at the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, the Collective Security Treaty Organization agrees to send a mission headed by the organization's Secretary General to Yerevan to assess the situation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Russian Presidential Press and Information Office)

An extraordinary session for the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) Council held via videoconference had decided on Tuesday to send a mission headed by the Secretary General to Armenia to estimate the situation due to reescalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

The Organization's secretariat's press service revealed that "During the session of the Collective Security Council it was agreed to send a mission of the Collective Security Treaty Organization headed by CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas with the participation of Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov and representatives of CSTO member states to the Republic of Armenia for estimating the current situation, drafting an in-depth report to heads of states at the next session of the Collective Security Council (that is planned to be held in the autumn in Yerevan) about the situation in the region and developing proposals on de-escalation of present tensions."

The meeting further decided to set up a working group "consisting of the secretarial staff and members of the military of joint headquarters for constant monitoring of the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone."

Russian President Vladimir Putin also briefed meeting participants on other tangible efforts taken by Moscow to de-escalate current tensions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as the CSTO secretariat outlined.

Furthermore, the press service revealed that "A detailed and fair exchange of views took place. All participants of the Collective Security Council meeting expressed concern about the deterioration of the situation in the region and supported its settlement using solely political and diplomatic means based on universally recognized principles of international law and agreements fixed in three-sided statements by leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on November 9, 2020. The mediatory efforts of the Russian Federation aimed at stabilization of the situation in the region were fully supported."

The delegates also expressed sympathy to the Armenian side for the casualties of military operations involving heavy weaponry and remotely piloted aircraft.

Armenia-Azerbaijan ceasefire collapses right after entering into force

Earlier, a spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry, Aram Torosyan, said positional fighting continues along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

"As of 08:00 on September 13 [04:00 GMT], the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has not changed significantly. The enemy continues to use artillery, mortars, drones, and large-caliber rifles in the directions of Vardenis, Sotk, Artanish, Ishkhanasar, Goris, and Kapan, targeting both military and civilian infrastructures," the spokesperson said.

Torosyan added that "the enemy does not stop the attempts to advance."

A total of 49 Armenian soldiers were killed as a result of shelling on the border with Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday.

"Our losses amounted to 49," Pashinyan told lawmakers, noting that the figure is not final.

Moreover, three civilians were injured as a result of the Azerbaijani shelling, the Armenian Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

"As a result of artillery shelling of Armenian positions and settlements by the Azerbaijani armed forces, three civilians were injured," the Ministry said in a statement.

The condition of one of those injured is serious, the statement added.

This comes right after a ceasefire was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Haqqn news portal, which cited sources, revealed that Yerevan and Baku have agreed to a truce beginning at 05:00 GMT.

Shortly after, the ceasefire collapsed after the fighting renewed.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Azerbaijani military shelled Armenian territory with artillery and drones, according to Yerevan.