CSTO foreign ministers sign joint statement on Kesab events

On his Twitter account, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan posted the joint statement of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) foreign ministers on the Syria situation, given the Kesab events. The statement says in particular:

“We express deep concern over the sharp worsening of the situation in northwestern Syria due to of the confrontation between the government forces and Al-Qaeda-linked extremist groups, which resulted in casualties and forced displacement of thousands of residents of the town of Kesab populated predominantly by Armenians.

We strongly condemn the terrorist acts and the use of force against civilian population”.

The foreign ministers of the CSTO called upon all the interested and involved in conflict sides to act in accordance with international law to ensure a rapid end of bloodshed and a peaceful settlement in Syria under the June 30, 2012 Geneva Communique on Syria.

We would remind you that on the morning of March 21 the town of Kesab and nearby settlements in Syria were attacked by militants of Al-Nusra Front and Islamic Front groups that penetrated into Syria from Turkey. Some 700 Armenian families have been evacuated from Kesab to Latakia.