Sincere discussion and acute proposals at CSTO online summit with Lukashenko’s participation
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, took part in an extraordinary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council on October 28th organised via videoconferencing, BelTA reports
The parties discussed a prospective reaction to the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, tackling the issue very seriously and frankly following the results of a monitoring mission – led by the CSTO Secretary General – which worked in the area.
Information on the monitoring mission’s operation was presented at the beginning of the extraordinary session by the CSTO Secretary General, Stanislav Zas. Then Russian President Vladimir Putin became the first state leader to deliver a speech. He is well aware of the situation, taking into account the efforts made by the Russian side to achieve comprehensive normalisation of relations between Baku and Yerevan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan then posed several questions to his colleagues: about the assessment of events and the CSTO position, as well as about the CSTO roadmap for ‘restoring the territorial integrity of Armenia’ – as it was phrased by the Armenian leader.
The speech of the President of Belarus then followed, and it was extremely topical. Saying nothing from the prepared theses, Aleksandr Lukashenko answered all the issues on the agenda and even those unvoiced. The main thesis of the Head of State is that the war ended with Russia’s mediation, so there is no need in some other new formats. The three leaders representing Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia – who plan to hold a meeting in just a few days – should come to an agreement, and Belarus will support any of their decisions.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also opposed the presence of additional Western missions – such as the EU and the OSCE.
The Belarusian leader sincerely answered both questions asked by the Prime Minister of Armenia, for consideration of which he had convened the meeting.
“You have raised two issues. I read the first one: ‘Assessment of events and the CSTO position’. You demanded that we decide on our position. Don't you know our position? We want the conflict to be settled peacefully between the neighbouring states," he stressed.
“The second issue is the following: ‘Give a roadmap for restoration of Armenia’s territorial integrity’. What roadmap [are you talking about]? I can answer you right away: sit down with Ilham Aliyev, if necessary, ask the President of Russia and make a decision. If you do not make it today, it will be worse – and you understand this. We do not need this conflict," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“Here you have raised two issues, but they are more than strange, Nikol Vovayevich," the President of Belarus added.
Aleksandr Lukashenko proposed a logical and consistent mechanism for resolving the outlined problems: primarily, deep and substantive negotiations of the three states, and then a return of the CSTO parties to the discussion in person at the next summit of the organisation – scheduled to be held in a month in Yerevan. A decision should then be made.
“This November, literally in a month, we will meet not via videoconferencing – as now – but in Yerevan, at the CSTO session. Why can't we hear reports on how events will develop, primarily taking into account the Armenia-Azerbaijan-Russia meeting? There will be a meeting of the three states, which are the main centre of power for normalisation of relations. Why are we getting ahead of ourselves? Where are we in a hurry? Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia should once again, if necessary (I emphasise, they agreed to sit down at the negotiating table), analyse the situation during this period – and report to us at the CSTO meeting in person. We will make a decision then," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The President also emphasised that Armenia and Azerbaijan were not only part of the same state, but are also friendly to all others within the CIS. Moreover, he stressed that the conflict issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be resolved now: ‘with Ilham Aliyev, the leader with whom it is possible to negotiate’.
“The issue is very sensitive. This is not the case when the CSTO and we as the CSTO members are on the other side, and Azerbaijan is on the other. These are our friendly two countries. True, they were parts of the same state. Moreover, we are members of the CIS together with Azerbaijan and Armenia. We have very close ties with Orthodox Armenia and Muslim Azerbaijan. This is especially sensitive for other CSTO members, including the Russian Federation, where 30m Muslims live. That is, all the nuances and all the factors must be taken into account," the Belarusian leader stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko continued, “Moreover, is Azerbaijan some kind of enemy or opponent to the heads of state and countries present here? No. I confirm what President Putin said: both Armenia and Azerbaijan are closely related to us, and the peculiarity of the situation is rooted in this. We cannot ignore this factor."
The Head of State believes it is impossible to raise the question in such a way that the CSTO and ‘are you with us or not’ on the one hand, and Azerbaijan – on the other. “This is wrong. Azerbaijan is headed today by absolutely our person: Ilham Aliyev. No one knows what will happen tomorrow (since he is not eternal). Therefore, these acute issues, which Nikol Vovayevich is talking about, really need to be addressed now, in times when the current leadership of Azerbaijan is in power, whoever stands behind Azerbaijan – they say it’s Turkey, and so on. So what? This is politics. Turks support Azerbaijan because they are close people to each other,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
In this regard, the President drew an analogy with the Belarusian-Russian relations, “Russia can be reproached in the same way for its support of Belarus, and Belarus for supporting Russia. Well, this is because we are closely related people, we support each other."
“Therefore, the issue [of Armenia-Azerbaijan relationship] needs to be settled now,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
Meanwhile, the Belarusian President’s fourth thesis is one of the most important: he calls for considering everything that is happening around from a global point of view. Attempts are being made to rock countries and set them on fire primarily in order to weaken Russia. Therefore, it is logical that the Head of State is against the involvement of any Western missions.
“I first said about the global track. All our decisions today should be made taking into account the regional and global situation in the world. We must take into account what is happening around us. Quotation: ‘It is necessary to instigate Russia around the perimeter. It has got bogged down in Ukraine, and now it needs to be set on fire around the perimeter – in the Caucasus, in Central Asia’. (In this context, the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan conflict should be viewed, and who plays what role there. I think, Emomali Sharipovich [President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon] and the President of Kyrgyzstan can tell about it.) I will continue this quotation: ‘Economically, it is necessary to put pressure on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’," the Belarusian leader added.
“So they have started to hammer us over the perimeter of Russia. As you know, the Baltic States were fenced out earlier and, in 2020, they tried to bring Belarus to its knees. Then it was Ukraine's turn. This is a movement along the perimeter: the Caucasus and then Central Asia. Who fails to understand this today? It is clear to all of us. Therefore, we should consider any conflict and any movements now in this global context,” Head of State said.
Summing up, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus (and he as President) will support the agreed decision of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, “I will support your common opinion – once you achieve it – without hesitation,” the Belarusian leader assured.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also shared his personal position on the ongoing conflict, “Please forgive me if I maybe fail to see this correctly staying many kilometres away from this theatre of military operations, but this is my impression of what is happening on these borders. I have already said like your friend: guys, what are you fighting for? What are you fighting for in these 2,000m high mountains? Three hundred people were killed. Three hundred people died where people do not live, and where even goats do not go! What are you fighting for? Sit down together and agree, and let Russia consecrate this treaty.”
“But you do not want to. There is some kind of game going on here, but there should be no game – since the issue of war and peace is on the line!” the Belarusian leader summed up.
