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The position of Azerbaijani leadership poses risks not only for the countries of the South Caucasus but also the security of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan stated on Thursday at the CSTO Council Session underway in the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek.

“I think a new escalation will have disastrous consequences not only for the region of the South Caucasus but also beyond it. Azerbaijan in a state of war may become a convenient platform for Islamic extremists who have lost their leverage in Syria and look for new territories for their activities. Moreover, Azerbaijan has favorable geographical location from where extremists may launch their activities in all directions – to the north, south, east and west,” Pashinyan said in his remarks.

Speaking of the unresolved conflict around the Nagorno Karabakh, Pashinyan said the CSTO has all necessary resources to prevent a new escalation. For that, per Pashinyan, the CSTO member states should first of all ignore Azerbaijani requests to obtain new weapons

“We are sincere in our desire to reach peace and are ready for a constructive dialogue toward a peaceful settlement in the frames of the concept presented by me. We will continue talks in the format of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship which is the only international mandate for the negotiations, and the CSTO has backed the format,” Pashinyan added.

To note, the CSTO Council session is attended by Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.