Pashinyan says Armenia too has faced international terrorism

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia itself has recently faced international terrorism in the region, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a virtual CSTO summit on Monday, January 10, amid ongoing unrest in Kazakhstan.

In the war against Artsakh (Karabakh) in fall 2020, Turkey supported Azerbaijan militarily, also by transferring terrorist mercenaries from the Middle East to fight against Karabakh. Armenia was the first to report on Turkey's deployment of thousands of Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan. International media publications followed suit, as did reactions from France, Russia, Iran and Syria.

Pashinyan said the CSTO's efforts in Kazakhstan will help the country restore normalcy in the shortest time possible.

"Our priority is the strengthening the crisis response mechanisms within the organization, which will help build up the structure and develop cooperation between countries," he noted.

"CSTO members have already shown a high level of mutual understanding in resolving the situation in Kazakhstan."

Almost immediately after Tokayev asked for help, the CSTO decided to deploy a peacekeeping contingent in Kazakhstan, with Armenia sending 100 troops to Kazakhstan as part of the contingent.