Lukashenko: The CSTO remains an integral element of the security of the Eurasian region

The CSTO remains an integral element of ensuring security in the Eurasian region. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the opening of the session of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO in Minsk, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

The current meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council effectively concludes the Belarusian chairmanship in the organization. Formally, Belarus will transfer the chairmanship functions to its Kazakhstani friends on December 31, 2023.

"The year has been rapid in terms of the development of the geopolitical situation. Accordingly, our work schedule has been intense. Starting from spring, Belarus has hosted events within the CSTO framework almost monthly: the session of the Parliamentary Assembly, then intersessional meetings of statutory bodies at the ministerial level, coordination meetings of the leadership of the relevant government bodies of the CSTO member states to counter transnational threats such as drug trafficking, illegal migration, emergencies, challenges in biological security, and cybersecurity," noted Alexander Lukashenko.

CSTO countries conducted a series of exercises to strengthen the military component of the organization. In October, Minsk hosted a major international conference on Eurasian security, held under the auspices of the Belarusian chairmanship in the CSTO.

"In other words, our organization remains an integral element of ensuring the security of its member states and the Eurasian region as a whole," the President stated.

In November last year, during the session of the Collective Security Council in Yerevan, Alexander Lukashenko outlined the priority areas for Belarus's chairmanship, both on the internal and external contours.

"On the internal contour, we sought to enhance the cohesion of the CSTO member states to strengthen the organization itself, as well as to ensure security and stability in the zone of responsibility. On the external contour, our goal was to strengthen the role and significance of the organization in the system of international relations. Today, it can be stated that the goals set by the Belarusian side in November last year have been largely achieved," said the head of state.

According to him, some of the events have already been completed, the implementation of certain tasks is ongoing, and individual priority areas are long-term and are being worked on by both member states and the CSTO Secretariat.

"Undoubtedly, the results of the work are a collective success, the merit of all of us - the participants of the treaty. We would not have been able to implement what was planned without the support of the priorities of the Belarusian chairmanship from friends and partners," the President emphasized.

Source: belta.by