Events
Belarus’ MFA confirms Aleinik’s telephone conversation with Mirzoyan
An archive photo
MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus has confirmed that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergei Aleinik had a telephone conversation with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, BelTA has learned.
“Indeed, the two ministers have had a telephone conversation today to discuss the CSTO current activities. The telephone call was held upon our initiative. Ararat Mirzoyan informed that he would not be able to take part in the joint meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council, the CSTO Defense Ministers Council and the CSTO Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils,” the press service noted.
As BelTA earlier reported with reference to the press service of the CSTO Secretariat, the CSTO Collective Security Council summit will be held in Minsk on 23 November 2023 under the chairmanship of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The members of the CSTO Collective Security Council will discuss pressing international and regional security issues, outline future tasks, and adopt a number of documents aimed at ensuring collective security.
On the eve of this summit, 22 November 2023, the joint meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council, the CSTO Defense Ministers Council and the CSTO Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils will be held.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he would not participate in the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council. It is not the first time the Armenian leader has refused to attend integration events. For example, he missed a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Bishkek in October.
Aleksandr Lukashenko talked to Nikol Pashinyan over the phone on 14 November. The parties discussed the situation in the Caucasus, the bilateral relations, and the agenda of the forthcoming CSTO summit.
Natalya Eismont, Press Secretary of the Belarusian head of state, told reporters about Aleksandr Lukashenko’s reaction to Nikol Pashinyan’s refusal to attend the summit: “The president understands that it is up to any head of state to make such decisions. The invitation was sent to the prime minister of Armenia just like to the other heads of state. For example, the Russian president was invited to attend the summit during a recent phone call. He accepted the invitation.”
“Bearing in mind his experience and actions taken by some other prominent politicians in similar situations, the president suggested that the prime minister of Armenia should not hurry, should not make hasty decisions but should seriously think about the next steps that may be aimed at disintegration,” the press secretary noted.
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