CSTO to react to Nagorno Karabakh escalation, military chief saysFebruary 12, 2016 - 14:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The post-Soviet security organization, CSTO, will react to any actions causing escalation of tension on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as in Nagorno Karabakh, the head of the organization said Friday, February 12, according to TASS. "The Organization has been reacting to any actions of this kind that affect security in the region," Nikolai Borduzha said. At the same time, he continued, the organization is not involved in the settlement of the conflict. "We only monitor the situation, as it involves our ally - Armenia," the official said. "CSTO’s position is quite straight; all participating parties want to have the conflict politically settled." "All countries are against escalation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the use of heavy weapons," he added. On January 26, in a vote of 70-66, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) disapproved the anti-Armenian report “Escalation of violence in Nagorno Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan” prepared by British parliamentarian Robert Walter from the PACE Committee on Political Affairs. Most speakers who took the floor during the discussions, cited the OSCE Minsk Group as the platform mandated to settle the conflict. The Minsk Group earlier called on PACE to refrain from actions that might hinder the process of negotiations. Prior to the PACE discussions on the report, the Co-chairs issued a statement, calling for a negotiated settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “We understand that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) may consider resolutions on the conflict in the near future and remind PACE, and other regional and international organizations, that the Minsk Group remains the only accepted format for negotiations. We appreciate the interest paid by PACE members, but urge that steps not be taken which could undermine the Minsk Group’s OSCE mandate or complicate ongoing negotiations,” they noted. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. Partner news | Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. Armenia to sing in 2nd semi-final of Eurovision The organizers of Eurovision 2024 have revealed the running order of the countries in the two semi-finals. |