The intention to send a CSTO mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still valid. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced this today, January 18, at a press conference dedicated to the results of Russian diplomacy in 2022.

Speaking about the CSTO, he referred to the statement that was not accepted in Yerevan.

He noted that the statement could not be accepted in Yerevan, because the Armenian partners insisted that it contain a sharp condemnation directed at Azerbaijan. According to Lavrov, they explained that when it comes to condemnation and rhetoric, everyone has their own will to do it. But, according to him, when it comes to sending a CSTO mission, such statements are not mandatory

"We are still ready to send a CSTO mission to the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Although we are allies, despite the fact that the mission is ready, the Armenian side prefers to agree with the EU to deploy a long-term mission of civilian observers there. Of course, this is the right of Armenia, but we should not forget that the mission will be located on the border of Azerbaijan, and if there is no agreement with Azerbaijan, the deployment of the mission may have the opposite effect. Instead of strengthening trust on the border, it can create unnecessary tension," he said.

It should be reminded that the European Union intends to send a new observation mission to Armenia in a month for at least two years. The Armenian source of Infocom.am confirmed the information that last week this project was accepted by the Political and Security Committee of the European Council, and yesterday it was approved by the main structure dealing with observation missions, the Civil Affairs Commission for Crisis Management.

It should also be noted that on November 23, the regular session of the CSTO Collective Security Council was held in Yerevan under the chairmanship of Nikol Pashinyan. The Prime Minister did not sign the declaration of the CSTO Collective Security Council and stated that the project "On the declaration of the CSTO Collective Security Council and joint measures to provide assistance to the Republic of Armenia" has not been sufficiently finalized, and in this form, with all due respect, he is not ready to sign those documents.

Commenting on the fact that the statement was not accepted, the spokesperson of the RA Foreign Ministry said that the Armenian side expects a clear political assessment from the CSTO allies regarding the Azerbaijani aggression of September 13-14, and the current edition of the Collective Security Council's "Joint measures to provide assistance to the Republic of Armenia" draft decision did not satisfy the Armenian side from that point of view.