Armenia Submits Application to OSCE to Suspend Turkish Inspection Visits to Armenian Territory

Starting from July 12, amid the context of Azerbaijani aggression towards Tavush, Turkey has been making unprecedented threats against Armenia and engaging in actions supporting Azerbaijan, as evidenced by the large-scale joint military exercises near Armenian borders that began on July 29. This information has been reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

In light of the situation, on July 29, the Permanent Representation of Armenia to the OSCE submitted an application to inform OSCE member states and member countries of the CFE Treaty (Convention on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe) that the Republic of Armenia will henceforth suspend the participation of Turkish inspectors in inspection visits conducted on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, whether under the CFE Treaty or the Vienna Document.

According to the application, this decision by Armenia has been made based on the principles of the CFE Treaty and the Vienna Document, and stems from Armenia's security interests and concerns. The implementation of any inspection visit on the territory of Armenia by Turkey, which overtly supports Azerbaijan's military operations against Armenia and issues unprecedented threats—especially since July 12, 2020—will negatively impact Armenia's security interests and could endanger the safety of the Armenian population.

Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the CFE Treaty and the Vienna Document, emphasizing that only the participation of Turkish inspectors or Turkish inspectors in an invitee status in inspection visits conducted on the territory of the Republic of Armenia is being suspended.