Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at a meeting of foreign ministers of the CSTO countries on Tuesday, June 20 emphasized the imperative of a targeted response from the CSTO to Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggression.

Mirzoyan presented the latest developments in the region at the meeting that was also attended by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, weighing in on the situation on border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in Nagorno-Karabakh, the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

He once again recalled the ongoing occupation of the sovereign territory of Armenia – a CSTO member state – by Azerbaijan, touched upon the ongoing aggressive actions of Azerbaijan against the sovereign territory and internationally recognized borders of Armenia, the shelling of Armenian positions and civilian facilities on the border in recent days, emphasizing their destabilizing effect on the region-wide stability and security. In this context, Mirzoyan emphasized the imperative of a targeted response from the CSTO.

The Armenian Foreign Minister also spoke about the tense situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, including Azerbaijan’s provocations in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces, the June 15 incident near the Hakari bridge, as well as humanitarian problems arising from the illegal blockade that has continued for more than six months. Lachin corridor, and the deepening danger of ethnic cleansing from Azerbaijan.

Mirzoyan stressed that these actions of Azerbaijan are aimed at hindering 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 regarding the establishment of long-term peace in the region, Mirzoyan stressed the key importance of abandoning the policy of force or the threat of force, ensuring that existing problems are resolved through a constructive dialogue, including security issues and the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone on March 13 and stressed the importance of a targeted reaction from Russia to Azerbaijan’s attacks on Nagorno Karabakh.