MINSK, 9 September (BelTA) – The Collective Security Treaty Organization member states intend to provide more modern weapons and hardware to the CSTO's collective rapid response forces. The relevant plan is supposed to be passed at a session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Tajikistan on 16 September. Deputy Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Valery Semerikov made the statement after a session of the CSTO Interstate Commission for Military Technology Cooperation in Minsk on 9 September, BelTA has learned.
Participants of the session discussed the situation in the Central Asia region among other things. Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Chairman of the CSTO Interstate Commission for Military Technology Cooperation Yuri Borisov spoke about these matters. Valery Semerikov said: “He said the right thing: it is important for us to focus right now on realizing the plan on equipping and arming the collective rapid response forces with modern weapons and hardware. The plan has already been reconciled, approved by the defense ministers and the secretaries of security councils and will be submitted for approval of the heads of state on 16 September.”
In his words, attention of the heads of the national parts of the CSTO Interstate Commission for Military Technology Cooperation was focused on the need to start realizing the plan right away instead of taking it slowly. The intense situation in the Central Asia region demands it.
The important matters, which were discussed during the session in Minsk, also included prospects and the strategy of integration and manufacturing cooperation of defense companies of the CSTO member states. According to the CSTO deputy secretary general, these documents have been pre-approved and will be submitted for consideration of the organization's heads of state after reconciliation.
The organization of a CSTO military technology forum was also discussed. Valery Semerikov noted: “Figuratively speaking, we will arrange an exhibition of security solutions within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in which enterprises of the defense industries of all our states will participate. It is the foundation of the exhibition. We will also invite third countries, including via partnership and observation procedures.”
According to Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus Dmitry Pantus, the agenda of the session also included the creation of joint military technology products by the CSTO member states. “Large-scale work is in progress,” he said. “Due to understandable reasons different CSTO countries have a different potential for military technology cooperation. Today one of the key goals we are after is to create a joint product by leveraging competences and military technology cooperation of the CSTO member states.”
