Armenian president calls on CSTO, UN and OSCE to give targeted assessment of Azerbaijani aggression

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. In a statement issued today Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan called on Armenia’s international partners to condemn Azerbaijan’s encroachments and provocations against the sovereign territory of Armenia, urging them to force that country's military and political leadership to abandon its practice of threats and violence.

"I expect our partners in the CSTO, the UN Security Council, the OSCE structures and the international community to give an adequate assessment of Azerbaijan's gross violation of the fundamental principle of international law, the principle of territorial integrity and aggression aimed at disrupting the peace agenda," his statement said.

The president urged the citizens, all political forces, parties and public organizations of Armenia, which realize the seriousness and imperative of the moment, to put aside political differences and contradictions and unanimously, unconditionally stand with the armed forces.

"Our homeland needs consolidation and protection, and in the current situation we must all be united by the sacred task of defending our country, ensuring the inviolability of its borders, sovereignty and security," the statement reads.

On September 13 at midnight, Azerbaijani armed forces began intensive shelling of Armenian positions using artillery and large-caliber guns and drones targeting Armenian Sotk, Vardenis, Goris, Kapan, Artanish and Ishkhanasar.

In some directions of the border, Azerbaijani troops attempted to advance into Armenian territory, but retreated after Armenian troops’ proportional response.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry as of 2 p.m., the situation in some parts of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border remained extremely tense.

According to preliminary data, 49 Armenian servicemen were killed on the Armenian side and three civilians were wounded. -0-