YEREVAN, 23 November (BelTA) – There is an urgent need to strengthen the military component of the Collective Security Treat Organization, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said at a joint meeting of the CSTO Ministerial Council, the Defense Ministers Council and the Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils of the CSTO member states in Yerevan on 23 November, BelTA has learned.
"Given the current military and political situation, we urgently need to strengthen the military component of the CSTO. In the coming period, the CSTO is planning to hold, involving its troops, operational forces, a number of tactical and tactical-special exercises with the elements of peacekeeping, countering terrorism, response to crisis and emergency situations," said Stanislav Zas.
The CSTO secretary general also noted the continuing danger of the spread of terrorist activity, illegal trafficking in weapons and narcotic drugs from Afghanistan into the CSTO states. Strengthening border security on the Tajik-Afghan border is on the agenda.
Countering challenges and threats to the security of the member states is one of the important tasks of the CSTO, Stanislav Zas said. The CSTO is implementing various operational and preventive measures aimed at combating the spread of drugs, illegal migration, criminal activity in information networks, such as "Channel", "Illegal", "Proxy". In light of the Collective Security Council, agenda, a set of operational and preventive measures "Mercenary" is planned to be given a status of a permanent regional anti-terrorist operation of the CSTO. "We will conduct the operation on a systemic regular basis," the secretary general explained.
An increased risk of emergence and spread of infectious diseases is a serious challenge for all countries of the organization. "Today we are going to approve the membership of the CSTO Coordinating Council on Biological Safety. It will be working in this important and new area of activity for us," Stanislav Zas said.
