YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia's permanent and plenipotentiary representative to CSTO Permanent Council Viktor Biyagov presented the situation resulted by the operations launched by Azerbaijan on the border with Armenia at CSTO Permanent Council session.

Biyagov referred to the escalation of the situation in the north-eastern section of Armenia-Azerbaijan border starting from July 12 as a result of the Azerbaijani aggression, as well as the targeting of the civilian infrastructures and population by Azerbaijan. Armenia's permanent representative noted that the Azerbaijani armed forces shell the civilian infrastructures of Chinari and Aygepar villages, damaging civilian objects.

''In the recent period Azerbaijan has continuously used threats of using force and military escalation and now it even tries to carry it out opposite to the calls of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs to refrain from provocative actions and hostile rhetoric, opposite to the call of the UN Secretary General on establishing global ceasefire supported by the CSTO member states.  The military-political leadership of Azerbaijan bears the entire responsibility of the escalation of the situation in the CSTO zone’', Biyagov said.

Permanent and plenipotentiary representative of Armenia to CSTO Permanent Council Viktor Biyagov drew the attention of the representatives of the CSTO member states on the announcement of the foreign ministry of Turkey, noting that Armenia strongly condemns the attempts of Turkey to provoke instability in the region.

''The existing situation is a cause of attention and concern for the entire Organization and for each of its member states, since it’s an attempt of direct aggression against one of the members of the Organization in the zone of responsibility of the Organization. We call on our allies to demonstrate solidarity and support in line with the nature of the CSTO Charter. This unprecedented situation becomes a serious test for each of us and for the entire Organization'', Viktor Biyagov said.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan