Lukashenko: If Armenia wishes conflict can be resolved with Azerbaijan

REGION  23 November 2022 - 21:06

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that it is necessary to make every effort to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The president made these remarks at a narrow session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Yerevan, on November 23, BelTA reports.

While speaking about the existing challenges and threats, President Lukashenko stated that there is a difficult situation in the CSTO.

“We have repeatedly said that efforts are made to disturb the societies within our countries along the perimeter of the Russian Federation. First, the situation aggravated Ukraine, the efforts were made to destroy Belarus in 2020. Belarusians experienced this. The situation aggravated in Kazakhstan in January 2022 [it's good that the leadership of Kazakhstan coped with this conflict there]. It is necessary to emphasise the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I will repeat what I said at the extraordinary session of the Collective Security Council on October 28. We would like the conflict between the two neighbouring and friendly states to be resolved peacefully,” he noted.

“I think I will express everyone’s opinion. We are not aloof. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the CSTO did not deter Azerbaijan from aggression. It's not our job to keep anyone. However, in fact, we must respond. We are ready to respond,” the Belarusian leader said.

He noted that Russia is currently carrying out a mediation mission on this issue, with which both Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed.

“Let's move in this direction. Let's agree, let's do everything for people not to die there. This will be accepted with pleasure in the Armenian and Azerbaijani society,” the president added.

“Dear Mr Pashinyan, there are nuances and perhaps, they are big ones. We can fundamentally settle this conflict, which may exacerbate again, first of all, in case of the Armenian leadership’s desire and of course Azerbaijan’s desire. By the way, I will talk about it. This is one of the priorities of the Belarusian chairmanship. We must not turn a blind eye to this issue. The CSTO should focus on this issue whether we can solve this problem or not,” the president stressed.

“However, we must understand that the conflict is between two neighbouring and close states, which are friendly to us. This is the only reason. We do not want to please one side to the detriment of the other. Armenians are not strangers to us, and we want to support them. In this regard, efforts should be made, first of all, by Armenia,” Lukashenko noted.

“I don’t understand, maybe someone will explain. Russia is already involved in mediation. Why is the mediation of the European Union and the OSCE required? Is it required to ruin relations between allies? It has always been like this in history. We know the outcome of this “mediation”. This conflict will be at least frozen again for many years. They do not need stability and peace in our region. They need the devastation controlled by them,” he said.

The president drew attention to the fact that there is similar conflict situation on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

He said that the task of the CSTO allies is to help these countries resolve the conflict situation.

“There is no need for these fights. We don't need them," the president said.

Caliber.Az