CSTO resources must be used to avoid Karabakh escalation: Sec. Gen.

December 28, 2015 - 11:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The situation in Nagorno Karabakh region causes serious concern; the sides should avoid further escalation, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said Sunday, December 27, Sputnik International reports.

"We are greatly concerned about the situation in the Caucasus, especially in connection with the Karabakh conflict, with heavy weapons, tanks used and casualties registered on the contact line," Bordyuzha said in an interview with Rossiya-24 news channel.

He added that political resources of the CSTO states should be used to prevent further destabilization of the situation, as well as "to ensure that this conflict does not develop into large-scale military clashes."

The CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance formed in 1992 with six members at present: Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus, as well as two observer states – Afghanistan and Serbia.

Sputnik News. CSTO Chief Calls to Evade Escalation of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.