MOSCOW, April 03. /ITAR-TASS/. At their meeting in Moscow on Thursday, April 3, the foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) voiced deep concern over the dramatic deterioration of the situation in the northwest of Syria after clashes between government troops and al-Qaeda-related extremist groups, which resulted in the loss of life and forced relocation of thousands of people from the Armenian-populated city of Kessab.

“We strongly condemn the acts of terror and the use of force against the peaceful population,” the ministers said in a statement. “We call for stopping the violence as soon as possible and ensuring the safe return of refugees. We are convinced that the situation can be normalised only by excluding external interference and violence and by conducting a broad political dialogue that will take into account the interests of all Syrians regardless of their ethnic or religious background,” the document said.

The minister urged all parties interested and concerned to act in strict compliance with international law in order to stop the bloodshed and achieve a political settlement in Syria in accordance with the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012.