Azeri sniper attacks to be discussed during CSTO chief’s visit to Armenia

February 3, 2014 - 14:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - A delegation led by Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha will visit Yerevan on Feb 4-5 on the invitation of the National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Artur Bahdasaryan.

Meetings with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Baghdasaryan are on Bordyuzha’s visit agenda.

Commenting on lack of reaction from CSTO over escalation of violence at the border with Azerbaijan and contact line at a Feb 1 news conference, Baghdasaryan said, “the CSTO chief repeatedly responded to instances of Azeri ceasefire violation; we can’t expect him to react every single time.” As he noted, the issue will be discussed during Bordyuzha’s visit to Armenia. He went on to speak of Azeri sniper attacks, slamming Baku for shifting the blame on Armenia.

CSTO

The Collective Security Treaty Organization, formed under the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, serves as a mutual defense alliance among Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The Collective Security Treaty (CST) was signed on May 15, 1992 for five-year term, with the possibility of prolongation. On December 2, 2004 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Resolution to grant the observer status to the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the General Assembly of the United Nations. The goal of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is to strengthen peace and international and regional security and stability and to ensure collective protection of independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Member States, in the attainment of which Member States shall give priority to political methods. On February 4, 2009, the CSTO leaders approved formation of Collective Rapid Reaction Force (RRF).