YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas has initiated an extraordinary meeting of the CSTO Permanent Council to discuss the current escalated situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Armenpress reports citing the CSTO official website.

“In connection with the escalation of the situation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which started as a result of a military clash in the direction of Armenia’s Tavush province on July 12, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas has initiated today an extraordinary meeting of the CSTO Permanent Council”, the statement says.

On July 12, at about 12:30, the armed forces of Azerbaijan attempted to violate the state border of Armenia in an UAZ vehicle in the direction of Tavush province. Following the warning of the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani armed forces left the vehicle and returned to their position. At about 13:45, the Azerbaijani forces made a second attempt to capture the Armenian border post, using artillery fire, but were pushed back, suffering losses.

The Azerbaijani defense ministry reported that four soldiers have died in the incident.

Later that day Armenian defense minister’s spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan announced that the Azerbaijani side restarted shelling the same Armenian position, using 82 mm mortars and a tank.

Today Shushan Stepanyan announced that the Azerbaijani side has again resumed shelling the Armenian positions.

No casualties were reported from the Armenian side. Only two police officers, who were on a combat duty in the border, were slightly injured from the Azerbaijani operations.

Armenian FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan already held a phone with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas on July 13.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan