Russian MP plays down Armenia's call for CSTO mission on Azeri borderJuly 29, 2021 - 18:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Leonid Kalashnikov, Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs at Russia's State Duma, has described the proposal by acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to deploy the CSTO monitoring mission along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border as a political one. On Thursday, July 29, Pashinyan proposed that the CSTO deploy a monitoring mission along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. According to him, in case a CSTO mission is impossible, internationally recognized other formats, including the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, may be acceptable. “Such security matters are most often resolved in silence. Statements in the presence of the press are made when you need to score some political points, to establish yourself in the government, in parliament or elsewhere," Kalashnikov said on Thursday, July 29, Interfax reports. According to Kalashnikov, "the issue is very difficult, serious, and it should first of all be resolved" by the leaders Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The lawmaker also claimed that incidents on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan "are, thank God, rare." In the wee hours of July 28, the Azerbaijani armed forces attacked the Armenian positions in Gegharkunik province, triggering local battles. Three Armenian troops were killed, five others were wounded in the process, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the Azerbaijani forces have been thwarted back to their positions. The Azerbaijanis fired on Armenian positions on July 29 too, injuring one more soldier. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. 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. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |