ArmInfo.The countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will study issues of cooperation in the field of biosafety in the context of the situation with the coronavirus pandemic. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov announced this during a meeting of the Council of CSTO Foreign Ministers via video conference on May 26.
"Coronavirus infection has become a serious experience that affects the entire system of international relations, it has become a challenge for each state and for interstate bodies. And today we have to carefully analyze what conclusions need to be made with respect to the activities of our organization," the Russian minister said.
He added that the potential of the CSTO is in demand for responding to such threats, and in the interests of ensuring the health of citizens of the organization's countries, it was proposed to consider priority measures for the development of cooperation in the field of biological safety.
At the same time, Lavrov emphasized that the Organization plays a key role in ensuring security not only in its area of responsibility, but throughout the Eurasian space. He stated that the situation in the world as a whole and the tense situation in Afghanistan will be discussed with CSTO colleagues.
In the context of anti-terrorist activities, according to the Russian minister, the CSTO should pay attention to the identification of foreign terrorists and militants, especially immigrants from the CIS countries. According to him, the formation of common lists of terrorist organizations will play an important role in this matter.
Another threat to the CSTO countries, according to Lavrov, is drug trafficking, primarily of Afghan origin, from which terrorist organizations are funded. At the same time, he expressed his conviction that the "Channel" anti-drug operation is an important deterrent in this matter. He also called useful the synchronization of anti-drug operations within the CSTO with operations within the SCO and the CIS.
"We consider it important to maintain a regular dialogue in the CSTO format on the entire spectrum of security issues in the Euro-Atlantic region in the interests of coordinating Allied approaches. Particular attention is required to build the CSTO's peacekeeping potential. Today we will continue to discuss ways to resolve organizational issues and improve the legal framework. I hope that this will allow the units CSTO to participate in UN peacekeeping operations, "Lavrov said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also participated in the work of the CSTO Ministerial Council. The agenda of the meeting includes questions about the state and prospects for the development of the international and regional situation and its impact on the security of the CSTO member states, on CSTO cooperation with the CIS and the SCO.
Special attention is paid to the interaction of the CSTO member states on international platforms, the development of the Organization's peacekeeping potential and the institutions of the CSTO Observer and Partner, as well as joint counteraction to modern security challenges and threats.
It is planned to adopt a number of joint statements, in particular, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, on confirmation of adherence to the goals and principles of the UN Charter.
In addition, draft documents on the consultation plan for the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021, as well as on the next distribution of quota posts in the CSTO Secretariat, were submitted to the ministers for consideration.