MOSCOW, 21 January (BelTA) - The UN is impressed by the speed and excellent organization of the deployment of CSTO peacekeepers in Kazakhstan, CSTO spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov told BelTA following a video conference between CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas and UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca.
“Interaction in peacekeeping activities and the results of the CSTO peacekeeping operation of the CSTO Collective Forces in Kazakhstan were also discussed. CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas stressed that the peacekeeping operation was fully legitimate, was launched following Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's request, was based on Articles 2 and 4 of the Collective Security Treaty and was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the CSTO Peacekeeping Agreement, registered with the UN Secretariat,” the spokesman said.
“Miroslav Jenca stressed that he was impressed by the speed and excellent organization of the deployment of the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces in Kazakhstan. He positively assessed the efficient contacts between the CSTO Secretariat and the UN and emphasized that the UN secretary general received timely information from CSTO about the deployment of the peacekeeping contingent,” Vladimir Zainetdinov said.
The parties discussed the development of the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility and spoke in favor of continuing active cooperation between the CSTO and UN agencies in maintaining international peace, including the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and illegal migration.
Summarizing the organization's activities in 2021, the CSTO secretary general presented a general description of the security situation on the external borders of the CSTO member states. He emphasized an increased number of military and political threats in the Eastern European region of collective security, growing instability in the Central Asian region due to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan and threats emanating from the territory of this country. Miroslav Jenca briefed Stanislav Zas about the UN plans to provide large-scale humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
According to Stanislav Zas, the situation in the Caucasus region of collective security remains relatively stable thanks to the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the mediation of Russia. Delimitation and demarcation of the state border is needed for further normalization of the situation.
The CSTO secretary general said that the organization welcomes the talks launched between Russia and the United States and hopes that the parties will hear each other and find solutions to existing problems in global security. “Although the CSTO is not involved in the talks, the organization is closely following them and hopes that they will lead to a reduction of tension in the region, including in the CSTO zone of responsibility,” Stanislav Zas said.
Miroslav Jenca also positively assessed the Russian-U.S. negotiation process. “We attribute an important role in ensuring international peace and security to negotiations between the United States and Russia, and welcome such dialogue, as it is the best means to resolve all open issues in order to avoid approaches relying on force. We expect U.S.-Russian diplomacy to bring concrete results,” the UN assistant secretary general said.
“The parties praised the level of interaction between the UN and CSTO secretariats and agreed on further contacts,” the CSTO spokesman added.
