ASTANA, 9 November (BelTA) – The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has legalized its observer and partner statuses. The corresponding decision was adopted by the CSTO heads of state at the summit in Astana on 9 November, BelTA has learned.
The draft decision took into account the priorities of Belarus' presidency in the CSTO in 2010 and 2017, the plan of measures to implement the decisions of the November session of the Collective Security Council in 2017 and the priorities put forward by Kazakhstan for the period of its presidency in the organization.
The decision approved the provisions on the respective observer and partner statuses. They define who can be granted such statuses, the criteria and conditions for obtaining them as well as the status granting procedure.
“During the first part of the session we exchanged views on the CSTO activities in ensuring international and regional security. Understanding was reached on all issues on the agenda,” Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
He stressed that Kazakhstan considers the CSTO as an authoritative and effective structure. “With the active and comprehensive support of the organization's member states, Kazakhstan's priorities were successfully implemented during the country's presidency in the organization,” the Kazakhstan leader said.
The heads of state also adopted a decision on the provision regarding the CSTO Crisis Response Center. The document defines the basic organizational and legal activity of the center.
