News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 30 November (BelTA) - A session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has opened in the Palace of Independence in Minsk, BelTA has learned.

The arriving heads of state were welcomed by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. After the joint photo-op, the presidents proceeded to the Palace of Independence for the talks. In accordance with the agenda of the meeting, the presidents will discuss the development of the international situation and the measures taken to strengthen the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The plenary meeting will focus on a wide range of issues, including various draft declarations and decisions, the organization's ongoing activities.

The summiteers will take stock of Belarus’ presidency in the CSTO in 2017. Belarus’ presidency goals were to increase the influence of the organization in the international arena, enhance the operational readiness of the Collective Forces, ensure economic security of the member states and implement a set of additional measures to combat international terrorism, the spread of drugs and illegal migration in the CSTO area.

The heads of state are expected to adopt a number of decisions on various areas of the CSTO activity, including the priorities of the Belarusian presidency in the organization.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization comprises six states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The organization’s key tasks is to ensure national and collective security of its member states, strengthen their military and political cooperation and integration, coordination of foreign political positions in international and regional security matters, cooperation against challenges and threats, and also military and technical cooperation.