On April 3 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian who is on a working visit to Moscow took part in the session of Foreign Ministerial Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

The agenda of the ministerial meeting included issues of providing international and regional security, coordination of foreign policy of the Member-states of the Organization.

During the session the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov presented the implementation of priorities of Russian presidency at the CSTO.

Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolai Bordyuzha reported to the participants of the session about the current activities of the Organization and the results achieved in the framework of cooperation.

The participants of the session adopted a joint statement on the initiative of Armenia concerning the drastic escalation of situation in the north-west of Syria and the continuing crisis in country.

Foreign Ministers of the CSTO Member-states expressed a deep concern and strongly condemned the occupation of Kessab by extremist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda which resulted in human causalities and forced displacement of Armenian population.

“We strongly condemn terrorist acts and use of force against civilians.

We urge for immediate cessation of violation and provision of secure return for refugees. We believe that the stabilization of situation is possible only by the exception of external interference, refraining from violation and wide-ranging political dialogue which will take into account the interests of all Syrians independent of their ethnic or religious affiliations.

We call on all stakeholders to act strongly in line with the international law having the goal to immediately stop the bloodshed and achieving peaceful political settlement in Syria based on Geneva Communiqué of June 30, 2012.”-the joint statement of the session of Foreign Ministerial Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) reads.

Foreign Ministers of the CSTO Member-states also approved the program of consultations on foreign policy, security and defense issues for the second half 2014 and the first half of 2015. They also adopted a joint statement on Presidential elections in Afghanistan.

The Ministers also agreed on a number of projects for decisions to be presented on the upcoming session of the Collective Security Council.