YEREVAN. - The session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was held in Yerevan on Friday. The meeting was chaired by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who presided in the Organization for the period between the sessions of years 2015-2016.
The session addressed the process of implementing the decisions adopted at the previous CSTO summits, as well as the priorities set by Armenia during the country’s presidency at the CSTO.
In the framework of over two dozen issues set on the agenda, reference was made to the international situation and current issues related to the collective security, drafts of the decisions on developing the CSTO collective security strategy for the period of up to 2025 and establishment of CSTO emergency response center.
The presidency of the CSTO for years 2016-2017 was assumed by the Republic of Belarus. President Alexander Lukashenko will present to the Collective Security Council the priorities of his country, which are to be implemented during the country’s presidency.
Documents on the further development of the Organization’s military component, preparation of military cadres, as well as development of response system of CSTO member states during emergency situations were signed in the framework of the Collective Security Council’s agenda.
The heads of CSTO member-states decided to withdraw the issue of the Secretary General from the agenda, postponing its discussion to the end of the current year.
At the plenary session, the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan briefed the representatives of official delegations on the issues discussed in the restricted format.
“I think we held a very productive and frank discussion on the issues directly relating to our affairs and impacting the security issues of our countries, being projected and manifested at regional levels and not only. Of course, we also touched on challenges and threats which the entire international community faces. Here I first of all mean the unprecedented outbreak of terrorism and violence, which can have no justification.
Dear heads of states,
The Yerevan session concludes Armenia’s presidency in the Organization. Certain measures were taken between the sessions to replenish the further cooperation in the CSTO. The work was aimed at increasing the Organization’s potential proceeding from the goals and issues defined by the Agreement on Collective Security, whose 25th anniversary we will celebrate next year,” President Sargsyan noted.
