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“The situation [on Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact] is relatively calm at present, with no significant tension mentioned,” Armenia’s Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan said at today’s press conference, commenting on the Azerbaijani shooting towards Voskepar-Baghanis highway on 20 April.

In his words, such incidents take place repeatedly and receive regular responses.

“We act upon the fact that the ceasefire agreement is mandatory for the parties. Each case of [ceasefire] violation must be condemned by the international community and the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-Chairs. Currently we are not satisfied with the [respective] reaction,” the minister said.

Vigen Sargsyan noted that the situation is relatively calm in recent weeks with less violation cases being registered.

Speaking about Yuri Khachaturov’s appointment to the post of CSTO Secretary General, Sargsyan pointed out that having an Armenian citizen as the CSTO Secretary General can settle numerous issues, however it can lead to some complications.

“The statement of Nikolay Bordyuzha as a Russian citizen in the post of the Secretary General had a different weight, than any potential statement of an Armenian citizen Secretary General. Although he does not function as an Armenian citizen in that post – he is an international official, who has limitations, certain mechanisms of expressing his position, agreed previously with the member states,” the minister noted.

In Sargsyan’s words, they will continue the activities aimed at strengthening the CSTO, which is, in fact, an organization that tackles major issues. “We observe its potential and will continue to do our best to make our membership to the CSTO highly productive and helpful,” the minister added.