Lukashenko holds meeting with Secretary General of Collective Security Treaty Organization

Belarus' position on CSTO activities and the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was discussed. It remains clear and consistent. It is important to resolve the conflict in Transcaucasia and not to allow other "fires" to flare up in the Central Asian region. Together, we must respond to the threats. On November 1, Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Stanislav Zas.

Minsk has always taken an active position in the CSTO. Next year Belarus will preside in the Organization and now it is at the final stage of preparation of the priorities. The President's demand is that there should be no abstract talks, but only solutions to urgent problems.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that Russia is already a mediator in the settlement of the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and it is enough:

The war is over. It's clear how it ended. The parties are determined that they need a mediator. This is quite a normal, classical situation. Naturally, the intermediary is Russia. They turned to Russia. Russia sent hundreds of people there. We remember how the planes flew. Russian border guards, as Putin said, are on all sections of the border with Turkey, Iran between Armenia and Azerbaijan and so on. What else do we need? Let them work in this direction. I did not say for nothing that there is a certain game. I understand what kind of game it is, why the European Union was dragged into it, why they drag the OSCE into it. Why? It is clear why. What will they do there, if there is already a mediator? And the CSTO must be dragged into it. As if there is nothing else to do.

The negotiations in Sochi, were held in the most logical and acceptable today trilateral format. Putin, Aliyev and Pashinyan. Did the parties reach an agreement on peace between Yerevan and Baku? Not yet! But they are looking for solutions. Russia is helping, and without any Western involvement...

Why is Lukashenko reacting so strongly? Since long ago, our President urged both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to negotiate peace. He was discussing the options with both Baku and Yerevan.

Lukashenko: We must calm down and come to an agreement

At one time, when we were chairing the CSTO, I took up this issue. I went to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, talked to him. I talked to him as a friend. And I asked him a question in a joking way: "Ilham Heydarovich, you must help Armenia, if you agree." And the question was about five and a half or six districts of Azerbaijani districts which were, as they said, seized by Armenians. The Armenians admitted that "it's not our land, it's Azerbaijani land. Except for Karabakh. So give it back! And if then, when I suggested it, those areas had been returned, there would have been no war.