The Issue of Azerbaijani Troops Intruding into Armenian Territory Remains Open: Mirzoyan After CSTO Meeting

The meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member states held in Yerevan resulted in a statement on international security issues, as well as a consultation program for CSTO member states on foreign policy, defense, and security issues for the next three years. This was announced to reporters by the host country's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan during a joint press statement with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas.

“We completed the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which was attended by the heads of foreign ministries of CSTO member states and the CSTO Secretary General. This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Collective Security Treaty Organization; on this occasion, I would like to congratulate us all once again.

During both the narrow format and the expanded format meetings, we discussed the trends in the development of the situation in international and regional security and their impact on the security of our states. We also touched upon the issue of improving crisis response mechanisms, which, as you know, is Armenia's priority during its presidency in the CSTO. In January, the organization responded timely to the events in Kazakhstan, but to this day, the issue of Azerbaijani troops invading the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, which began in May 2021, remains open.

We also discussed the progress of the implementation of the agreements reached at the level of leaders of CSTO member states in September 2021 within the framework of the Collective Security Council session, as well as Armenia's priorities during its presidency,” announced the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

According to Mirzoyan, Armenia has been and remains committed to proactive cooperation within the CSTO framework aimed at expanding cooperation between member states, including the development of foreign policy coordination within the CSTO and enhancing the organization’s role in the international arena.

Based on the outcomes of the meeting held at the Presidential Residence of Armenia, the foreign ministers of CSTO member states agreed to hold the next meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers again in Yerevan in the fourth quarter of this year.