MOSCOW, 19 May (BelTA) – There are no positive changes in the sphere of global security and the situation near borders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states remains tense. Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas made the statement after a session of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 19 May, BelTA has learned.
According to the source, the CSTO foreign ministers discussed in detail the state and prospects of development of the international situation and the regional situation and their influence on the security of the CSTO member states. Stanislav Zas said: “Unfortunately, we don't see positive changes in the sphere of global security. The situation virtually along the entire perimeter of the borders of the CSTO member states remains tense. More efforts are being poured into building up military presence and military activity of NATO countries near the borders of the Eastern Europe responsibility zone of our organization.”
Speaking about the Caucasus collective security region of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the CSTO secretary general noted that the deployment of a Russian peacemaking contingent in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and the continuation of the negotiations had noticeably improved the situation. “We see prospects of establishment of long-term peace over there,” Stanislav Zas stated. “No shots are fired already but the situation is tense for now. The Collective Security Treaty Organization closely follows the situation in near-border areas of Armenia's Syunik Oblast. The matter was discussed at the session of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council. We welcome the start of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan with Russia acting as a mediator and the achievement of an agreement on withdrawing some forces from the disputed territories. We believe there is no alternative to executing the trilateral agreements of 10 November 2020.”
Stanislav Zas also welcomed the resumption of negotiations and the stabilization of the situation at the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border. He pointed out agreements between the presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on resolving border disputes using diplomatic methods in the spirit of alliance and good neighborhood that underlie the Collective Security Treaty Organization. “I'd like to note it has substantially improved the situation in the Central Asia collective security region of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. It is particularly important taking into account a very complicated situation in neighboring Afghanistan. The withdrawal of U.S. troops and NATO forces from Afghanistan has begun. Unfortunately, it does not inspire hope that a peaceful resolution will be achieved in Afghanistan,” the official said.
“The role of coordinated actions of the CSTO member states in matters of foreign policy grows more prominent in such a complicated situation,” Stanislav Zas stressed.
