ArmInfo. It is difficult to reach consensus in the CSTO on the issue of decision-making, since the different countries that are part of the Organization have different relations with Azerbaijan. Former Minister of Defense of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan stated this in an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service.
Ohanyan expressed hope that the CSTO will find courage and condemn the provocation of Azerbaijan. <We always turned to the international community, not only to the CSTO, but also to the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, regarding the latest developments in the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. We also touched upon the issue of resolving the Artsakh problem, and related to the mechanisms of trust and possibilities for exercising control. If they do not listen to Azerbaijan, which was constantly against the introduction of such mechanisms, it will very soon become clear which of the parties is committing violations. It will become obvious that it was Azerbaijan that carried out the provocation>, the former defense minister emphasized.
He also noted that Armenia does not need to ask for military assistance from the CSTO. <We can turn to the CSTO if there is a larger, regional conflict. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia have no problems regarding the rout of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis are psychologically the same, and our armed forces are fulfilling the task assigned to them. Moreover, this is a private problem. The military units of the army corps solve these problems on their own,> Ohanyan emphasized.
To note, on July 12 at about around 12:30 pm, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, for reasons unknown to the Armenian side, attempted to violate the state border of the Republic of Armenia in the Tavush direction by <UAZ> car. After the Armenian side warned them, the enemy troops left the "UAZ" car, returned to their positions. At 1:45 pm, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, using artillery fire, tried to capture the Armenian stronghold, but were thrown back by the fire, incurring loss of manpower. There are no losses from the Armenian side. At the evening, the enemy resumed shelling of Armenian positions, in the direction of a strong point that had not previously been captured.
All night from July 12 to July 13 and all yesterday, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces intensively fired from the 82 mm mortars, tanks, 120 mm grenade launchers the aforementioned strong point. Also used shock drones.
The Armenian side warned the enemy that all responsibility for further aggravation of the situation would fall on the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan. The enemy on the eve subjected to shelling the border communities of Chinari and Aygepar. And today, from shock drones, it attacked the civilian infrastructure of the city of Berd.