T he downing of the Armenian helicopter during a training flight provokes further aggravation of the situation in the region and increases our concerns, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha said in a statement.
“Armed incidents have occurred along the line of contact of the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan all through 2014. The ceasefire was violated over 1,500 times only during the three summer months with civilian settlements and peaceful population targeted. There were facts of incursion of subversive groups that resulted in violence and death of civilians,” the Secretary General said.
“Today we witnessed yet another violation of the ceasefire agreement. The downing of the helicopter is a dangerous expression of violence, which creates a new threat of escalation of the conflict. The situation in the South Caucasus is further aggravating,” he said.
“We are deeply convinced of the need to prevent the threatening development of the situation. The most important things that could prevent such turn of events include refusal from the use of force, unequivocal commitment to the ceasefire agreement and avoidance of provocative actions. It’s important to ensure the continuation of the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha stated.
