Armenian Territorial Integrity: No Transport Corridor Can Exist, Says Grigoryan

On June 17, a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries of the CSTO was held under the chairmanship of Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan. The meeting discussed the security challenges and threats faced by CSTO member countries, as well as measures to neutralize them. Prioritized issues regarding joint anti-terrorist operations in the CSTO region were also addressed.

In this context, Secretary Grigoryan spoke about the security environment in the South Caucasus. He specifically noted that the region remains fraught with challenges due to the unresolved relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Grigoryan also presented Armenia's views and approaches towards stabilizing the security situation in the region and neutralizing existing challenges.

Grigoryan deemed Azerbaijan's violations of the ceasefire unacceptable, mentioning a specific incident on May 28 when Azerbaijani forces breached the ceasefire, resulting in the death of an Armenian serviceman.

Regarding the unblocking of regional communication routes, the Secretary emphasized that Azerbaijan periodically raises the issue of opening a so-called "transport corridor" through Armenian territory, reiterating that no transport corridor based on corridor logic can exist within the territory of the Republic of Armenia. He also highlighted that there are no mentions of corridors in the trilateral statements made on November 9, January 11, and November 21 between Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan.

Discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Secretary Grigoryan stated that the conflict remains unresolved and that a comprehensive solution to the core issue should be provided within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided by the CSTO Secretaries to finalize the 2023 joint preparation plan for the management bodies and formations of the CSTO collective security system. The decision to grant the "Mercenary" operational-preventive operation the status of a permanent action of the CSTO was approved, which will be presented for the leaders' approval.