Armenia's caretaker prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has officially appealed to the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) Collective Security Council’s Chairperson-in-Office – the president of Tajikistan – requesting that he launch the mechanism of joint consultations stipulated by Article 2 of the Collective Security Treaty.
Speaking yesterday (13 May) at an extraordinary meeting of Armenia’s Security Council regarding an alleged foray of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory, Pashinyan stated that, “some 250 Azerbaijani troops are still located within our state borders – in some parts of Syunik and Gegharkunik marzes”. He referred to the situation as a provocation.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a statement denying that Azerbaijani troops are in Armenian territory, claiming they are in the territory of Azerbaijan according to maps that are “available to both sides”. Speaking yesterday, the Armenian leader claimed that the maps used by the Azerbaijani troops had been falsified, and that “the Azerbaijanis themselves are well aware that the Soviet-era maps unambiguously confirm that their territorial claims are groundless”.
The Armenian leader referred to the situation as being fully consistent with second article of the CSTO’s collective security treaty, which states:
“The Member States shall consult with each other on all important issues of the international security affecting their interests, and coordinate positions on these issues.
“In case of menace to safety, stability, territorial integrity and sovereignty of one or several Member States or menace to international peace and safety of the Member States shall immediately launch the mechanism of joint consultations for the purpose of their positions coordination, develop and take measures for assistance to such Member States for the purpose of elimination of the arisen menace.”
Today (14 May) Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he informed him, “about the situation in Syunik Marz following Azeri troops’ subversive infiltration into Armenia’s sovereign territory”. The Armenian leader told the Russian leader that he had asked the CSTO to start consultations in accordance with Article 2 of the Collective Security Treaty Procedures.
The Kremlin press office's report on the call doesn’t mention the incident on the border; however, says that the Russian leader “emphasised the need to strictly comply with all the provisions of the statements of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan dated November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, primarily in terms of strict observance of the ceasefire regime”.
The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Élysée Palace have issued separate statements, calling for the "immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian territory".