Events

MINSK, 17 February (BelTA) – The situation in the responsibility area of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was discussed at the meeting of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha on 17 February, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.

Opening the meeting, the head of state suggested discussing emerging problems and the implementation of the decisions that had been made already among other things.

“We were in agreement that we will regularly revise how the units assigned to the CSTO collective rapid deployment forces operate. We are going to take several measures in this regard,” noted the Belarus President. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that since Russia presides in the CSTO now, the country has the right to suggest ideas for the near future. Later on the relevant matters and views should be run past the other CSTO member states.

The situation at the Tajik-Kyrgyz border was another matter the head of state suggested for discussing. “I am thankful for the information you were sending to me all the time when you were in the thick of these events. I think you will tell me what is going on there, too,” noted the President. “I think when the CSTO heads of state meet, we will be able to discuss and make decisions on the main matters concerning the CSTO operation”.

In turn, Nikolai Bordyuzha spoke highly of the fulfillment of obligations by Belarus. “We now keep an eye on several decisions made by the presidents earlier, including aid for Tajikistan in protecting the Tajik-Afghan border in view of the NATO pullout from Afghanistan. I can say that Belarus was one of the first to decide in favor of granting the aid. We have received the relevant information regarding the nomenclature that Tajikistan’s border service will get,” said the CSTO Secretary General.

Nikolai Bordyuzha explained that the choice includes equipment and some hardware that will soon be shipped to the Tajik-Afghan border. “Tajikistan’s border service needs all the things Belarus has apportioned. I can only be grateful. The aid is extremely valuable today taking into account the rather complicated situation and its development at the border and in Afghanistan as a whole,” he added.

The meeting also tabled matters concerning the development of the military component of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, primarily the creation of the collective air force, special operations forces, and the fulfillment of the Collective Security Council’s decision on aid in equipping the collective rapid deployment forces.