CSTO Collective Security Council summit

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Belarus is a consistent supporter of vigorous cooperation within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, supporter of more productive operation of the organization and of stronger authority of the organization in the international scene, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he opened the CSTO Collective Security Council session in Minsk on 30 November.

The presidents discussed the development trends of the international situation and its influence on the situation in the CSTO zone, shared opinions on the efficiency of measures taken to ensure collective security.

The Belarus president praised the affinity of views of the parties on the modern threats the CSTO member states face and on whether the chosen strategy for minimizing them is effective or not.

“We have been working persistently together to increase the international authority of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, expand the number of its supporters, and develop the most important forms of foreign policy coordination,” stated Aleksandr Lukashenko.

In his words, the organization has managed to formalize in concepts the common approaches to information security and upgrade the basic components of the crisis response system to match cutting-edge technical requirements. Concrete steps have been made to enable conditions for using the peacekeeping potential.

Apart from that, the foundation for legislating partnership between the Collective Security Treaty Organization and international organizations and third countries has been prepared.

“On the whole, a lot has been done in the jubilee year of 2017. I am convinced that future joint actions to make the CSTO stronger will continue in a steady, persistent, and dynamic manner. It is necessary to keep this work within sight of the general public in our countries and abroad,” stressed the Belarusian leader.

Belarus expects that all the previously advanced initiatives will be expanded and creatively developed after Kazakhstan takes over the CSTO presidency.

Following the high-level plenary meeting the sides signed more than two dozen documents on the agenda of the summit. These included the declaration on the 25th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 15th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.