MOSCOW, 6 March (BelTA) – The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is ready to participate in a peacemaking mission in Donbass, BelTA learned from Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Anatoly Sidorov at a press conference in Moscow on 6 March.
Anatoly Sidorov said: “Let's talk specifically about Donbass. Individual mass media and individual websites report that even Americans express their opinion about whether CSTO peacemakers should participate in the mission in Donbass or not. Let me tell you we are ready. If the relevant decision is made, the relevant task will be set. We will carry it out.”
The official explained that the CSTO's peacemaking potential can be used in two cases. “If the territory of a CSTO member state is affected, the decision is made by the CSTO Collective Security Council, in other words, by the heads of state. The CSTO peacekeeping forces can also be used in line with the decision of the United Nations Organization and can act upon the UN mandate. Then the force can be deployed in countries, which are not CSTO members,” said Anatoly Sidorov.
The official went on saying that the CSTO peacekeeping force numbers more than 3,600 people. “The number can be used to deploy any peacekeeping force depending on the situation and needs. If the situation needs 20 people, we will deploy 20. If 1,000 people are needed, 1,000 peacekeepers will be ready,” he noted.
The CSTO Joint Staff chief pointed out that the CSTO peacekeepers are well-trained. “Not only according to our specialists, but UN specialists, too,” stated Anatoly Sidorov.
The CSTO peacekeeping force can get ready to carry out missions quickly. As a matter of principle, they can leave for any part of the world for a peacekeeping mission within 24 hours, said Anatoly Sidorov.
