MOSCOW, 2 February (BelTA) – The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) responded to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with its founding treaty, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said at an online press briefing on the military and political situation in and around the CSTO's area of responsibility, the CSTO's activities in 2020 and the goals for 2021, BelTA has learned.
“We have the Collective Security Treaty that lays down clear terms and the procedure of involvement of the CSTO member states to help one or another country,” Stanislav Zas said. “Article 4 of the treaty reads that in case of aggression against any of the member states, that is, an armed attack threatening its security, stability, territorial integrity and sovereignty, at the request of this member state, all other member states shall immediately provide the necessary help, including military one. In this case, Armenia did not ask for the CSTO's military assistance, which was why we did not swing into action,” he explained.
The CSTO called for the ceasefire and the settlement of the conflict exclusively through peaceful negotiations from the start, Stanislav Zas pointed out. “Our position has not changed,” he noted.
“We welcome the agreements and the path chosen by the parties to the conflict. The trilateral agreements helped put an end to the bloodshed and prevent an even greater tragedy,” Stanislav Zas said.
