Thursday, September 16 2021 15:54

ArmInfo.There is no doubt that the potential of the CSTO Collective Forces needs to be  modernized, developed, supplemented with modern, including unmanned  formations, equip them with modern means and improve their  management. On September, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan  stated this 16, at the meeting of the CSTO Collective Security  Council in Dushanbe.  

As the press service of the RA Prime Minister reports, the meeting  was also attended by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko,  President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Toka, President of Tajikistan  Emomali Rahmon, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, Secretary  General of the CSTO Stanislav Zas. Russian President Vladimir Putin  participated in the meeting remotely.

According to the source, the CSTO leaders discussed the issues on the  agenda in a narrow-format session, afterwards, in the expanded-format  session presented the CSTO priorities and signed the adopted  documents. The CSTO leaders discussed issues related to security in  the CSTO zone of responsibility, further development of the CSTO, and  the situation in Afghanistan.

In his speech, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan first thanked the  President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon for the traditional warm  reception and for the work done by Tajikistan during its chairmanship  in the CSTO.

''Dear colleagues, 

The chairmanship in the CSTO is transferred to  Armenia, in connection with which the Armenian side would like to  offer the partners to focus on joint and consistent work aimed at the  dynamic development of the organization and the raising of the  effectiveness of the mechanisms.

In our opinion, it is necessary to continue working on deepening  foreign policy coordination and mutual assistance for developing  coordinated approaches to international and regional issues affecting  the interests of the CSTO member states. For this purpose we give a  major importance to the regular holding of multi- level  consultations, including in the format of a high-level group,  comprised of the deputy foreign and defense ministers. We believe  that the practice of adopting joint statements has justified itself,  and it should be expanded.

The development of the situation in different regions of the  Collective Security has clearly shown the need to modernize crisis  response mechanisms. The need for crisis situation monitoring,  forecasting and prevention mechanisms is obvious. In practice, all  this will be developed, including through the full operation of the  Crisis Response Center.

Armenia intends to closely collaborate with the CSTO member states to  increase the level of combat effectiveness, combat readiness, harmony  and mobility of the CSTO forces. There is no doubt that the potential  of the CSTO Collective Forces needs to be modernized, developed,  supplemented with modern, including unmanned formations, equip them  with modern means and improve their management.

It will be of great importance for our organization to further  improve the measures and mechanisms for combating terrorism,  extremism, ensuring information security, fighting against drugs,  illegal migration, and human trafficking.  

We also propose to take steps to strengthen the CSTO's reputation in  the international arena, including by expanding cooperation with  other interested international organizations. In this sense it's  important to maximally use and develop the existing joint working  experience with the UN, OSCE and other organizations.  

In our opinion, we can count on the support of our parliamentarians  in solving such issues.  During the Armenian chairmanship, we intend  to resume the practice of holding security conferences in Yerevan,  including by taking into account the already established dialogue  with the CSTO, OSCE and UN working bodies. We have already heard a  harmonious position from our Kazakh friends, we are ready to work  closely together.  

We suggest continuing the development of normative-organizational  documents, which will allow to have a legal base corresponding to  today's realities.  

I expect your assistance in establishing work with the younger  generation by conducting summer schools on security issues for the  students from CSTO member states in Armenia. 

Dear Colleagues, 

Our priorities will be reflected in more detail, with a list of  concrete measures and events, in the traditionally approved program  of the priorities of the chairmanship and the decisions of the  meetings of the Collective Security Council.  

Next year we will together mark the 30th anniversary of the  Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the Collective  Security Treaty Organization. A detailed plan has been agreed,  providing for the implementation of relevant activities in all CSTO  member countries.  We are waiting for the leaders of the member  states of the Organization in Yerevan.  Summing up, I would like to  once again congratulate our Tajik friends on the successful  completion of the CSTO chairmanship.  Thank you for attention''.  

Based on the results of today's sitting, the chairmanship in the CSTO  was transferred to the Republic of Armenia. A decision was made to  hold the next meeting of the CSTO Security Council in Yerevan in the  fourth quarter of 2022. It was also decided to hold large-scale CSTO  military drills in Tajikistan in the near future with the  participation of various units of the Armed Forces of the CSTO member  states