MOSCOW, September 14. /TASS/. The Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) Council decided at an extraordinary session held as a videoconference on Tuesday to send a mission headed by Secretary General to Armenia for estimating the situation due to escalation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"During the session of the Collective Security Council it was agreed to send a mission of the Collective Security Treaty Organization headed by CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas with participation of Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov and representatives of CSTO member states to the Republic of Armenia for estimating the current situation, drafting an in-depth report to heads of states at the next session of the Collective Security Council (that is planned to be held in the autumn in Yerevan) about the situation in the region and developing proposals on de-escalation of present tensions," the press service of the organization’s secretariat reported.

Moreover, it was decided at the meeting to set up a working group "consisting of the secretarial staff and members of the military of joint headquarters for constant monitoring of the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone." In his turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed the members of the meeting about additional practical steps made by Moscow aimed at de-escalation of the present tensions on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the CSTO’s secretariat added.

"A detailed and fair exchange of views took place. All participants of the Collective Security Council meeting expressed concern about the deterioration of the situation in the region and supported its settlement using solely political and diplomatic means based on universally recognized principles of international law and agreements fixed in three-sided statements by leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on November 9, 2020. The mediatory efforts of the Russian Federation aimed at stabilization of the situation in the region were fully supported," the secretariat noted.

The participants also expressed condolences to the Armenian side over the victims of military actions with the use of heavy weapons and remotely piloted aircraft.