CSTO Ready to Send Observers to Armenia, Says Lavrov

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is prepared to send observers to Armenia, pending a decision from the Collective Security Council (CSC). This announcement was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"When Armenia requested an extraordinary meeting of the CSTO, it was convened immediately. Shortly thereafter, it was decided to send the CSTO Secretary General and the Chief of the Joint Staff to Armenia. They went and brought proposals, which have been with us for more than a month now. The essence is that a CSTO observation mission be sent to the territory of Armenia, along the border with Azerbaijan," Lavrov said during discussions with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

According to Lavrov, the only requirement is the decision of the Collective Security Council, which needs to be convened by the CSTO president.

Earlier, the Armenian Foreign Ministry announced that Mirzoyan will be on a working visit to Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, from October 12-14, to participate in a meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council. In Astana, there will be a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia—Ararat Mirzoyan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and Sergey Lavrov.

It is worth noting that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Prague on October 6. Following the meeting, a statement was released indicating that Armenia had agreed to the work of an EU civilian mission along the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has agreed to cooperate with this mission to the extent applicable. The mission is set to begin its activities in October, lasting up to two months. The goal will be to build trust and support border commissions through its reports.