The extraordinary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council took place

On October 28, Chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, an extraordinary CSTO Collective Security Council session took place in the format of a video conference, the Press Office of the Armenian Prime Minister reported.

The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas also participated in the meeting.

The report of the CSTO Secretary General based on the result of the work of the mission sent to Armenia by the decision adopted at the September 13 session of the Collective Security Council was discussed at the session.

During the session, the Prime Minister of Armenia noted that the Secretary General's report shows the existing realities quite accurately, in particular the fact of the invasion of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia by Azerbaijani units and the danger of its recurrence, as well as the need for the Azerbaijani forces to return to their initial positions.

Prime Minister Pashinyan referred to Armenia's expectations regarding CSTO's response. In particular, Nikol Pashinyan once again emphasized the need for a clear political assessment by the CSTO of the Azerbaijani aggression unleashed on the sovereign territory of Armenia on May 12, 2021, and after that, including on September 13-14, 2022, and the need to create a clear roadmap for restoring the territorial integrity of Armenia. Based on the session results, the Foreign Ministers of the CSTO countries were instructed to agree on a draft decision.

Lukashenko's remarks criticizing Armenia

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko answered the questions posed by the Prime Minister of Armenia at the extraordinary summit of the CSTO.

"You ask us two questions: the assessment of the events and the position of the CSTO. You demanded that we decide on our position. Do you not know our position? We want a peaceful solution to the conflict between the neighboring states," he stated. 

Lukashenko added: "Second question: Give me a road map to restore the territorial integrity of Armenia. Which road map? I will answer you immediately: sit down with Ilham Aliyev, if necessary, ask the President of Russia and decide. It will get worse if you do not make a decision today." 

"The issue is very sensitive. The conversation is not about the CSTO and us, the CSTO members, on the one hand, and Azerbaijan, on the other. These are our two friendly countries [Azerbaijan and Armenia]. Moreover, we are a member of the CIS together with Azerbaijan and Armenia. We have very close relations with Orthodox Armenia, which is close to us, and with the Muslim state of Azerbaijan, which is also very close to us. This is especially sensitive for other members of the CSTO, including the Russian Federation, where there are 30 million Muslims. That is, all nuances, all factors must be considered", the Belarusian President emphasized.

"Is Azerbaijan an enemy or a rival to the state and heads of state here? No, I confirm what President Putin said: that Armenia and Azerbaijan are our native states. This is a peculiarity. We cannot ignore it," he concluded.

Read also: 

Lukashenko Visits the Occupied Abkhazia Causing Outrage in Georgia

Pashinyan criticized by Armenian civil society after Lukashenko congratulations