MOSCOW, 5 April (BelTA) – The State Duma of Russia ratified the protocol on amending the Agreement on Peacekeeping Activities of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as of 6 October 2007 at a plenary session on 5 April, BelTA has learned.
Presenting the document Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Pankin explained that the protocol allows for a possibility of participation of the CSTO peacekeeping forces in operations under the auspices of the UN. The document introduces the concept of ‘a coordinating state'. In line with the document, the CSTO collective peacekeeping forces can be used in UN peacekeeping operations under the umbrella of this state.
The deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation emphasized that the protocol does not bind the CSTO peacekeepers to take part in the UN peacekeeping operations. The final decision on participation in such operations will be made by each CSTO state individually.
This protocol was signed by the heads of state of the CIS member countries in Dushanbe on 16 September 2021.
