Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) should respond to Uzbekistan’s stance as well as the situation in Tajikistan, President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha on 31 July.
The Belarusian head of state remarked that he would like to hear Nikolai Bordyuzha’s view on the situation in Tajikistan. “It is a member of our organization. The situation is complicated and the appeal of the Tajikistan President cannot be disregarded,” the Belarusian leader said.
Moreover, Aleksandr Lukashenko asked Nikolai Bordyuzha about Uzbekistan’s stance: “What kind of stance is that? What is it based on?” The Belarusian President added: “You have met with the leadership of Russia and you know their view. I would like to talk about it as well”.
“A decision must be made. It cannot be avoided,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
In turn, Nikolai Bordyuzha pointed out all the registered trends were negative. “They indicate that the situation around and inside the former USSR is getting worse. Tajikistan is a manifestation of the negative development trend,” he remarked.
As far as Uzbekistan's intention to suspend membership in the CSTO is concerned, Nikolai Bordyuzha reported on the analysis that the Secretariat conducted together with the Permanent Council of the consequences which will take place in wake of with this decision.
The CSTO Secretary General told the President about the ongoing activities of the CSTO, on the preparations for the exercises. According to him, the exercises of the collective rapid response forces (CRRF) in the Central Asian region will begin in several days. In September the CRRF will go to Armenia for a major exercise, while the peacekeeping forces will have exercises in Kazakhstan.
A large block of issues was related to the preparations for the autumn session of the Collective Security Council. It will be entirely dedicated to military cooperation, Nikolai Bordyuzha said.
Nikolai Bordyuzha also stressed that the CSTO is viable and is capable of responding to any challenges and threats.
"The organization is viable enough and the main thing is that the CSTO possesses a necessary power potential to respond to any challenges and threats to its member states,” the CSTO Secretary General noted.