ASTANA, 8 November (BelTA) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko took part in the session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), BelTA has learned.
The meeting in reduced format started after the welcome ceremony and the photo opportunity. The sides discussed topical issues of international and regional security and cooperation in the format of the organization on the international arena. The heads of state also discussed candidates for the position of the CSTO Secretary General after Armenia's representative Yuri Khachaturov was released of his duties.
The plenary meeting focused on the organization's current activities, the fulfillment of previous instructions, the priorities of Kyrgyzstan's future presidency in the organization.
The summit concluded with the signing of a number of international documents. The most important documents included a draft declaration of the CSTO Collective Security Council, a statement of the leaders of the CSTO member states on coordinated measures against individuals who participated in armed conflicts on the side of international terrorist organizations, decisions on the legalization of an observer status with the CSTO and a partner status at the organization as well as a decision on the status of the crisis response center of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a decision on the composition of military contingents and the formation of special forces of the CSTO collective rapid response forces. A draft decision of the Collective Security Council on developing a collective system to counter illegal migration through 2025 was adopted.
The session also highlighted issues related to further improvement of the military component of the organization and a draft regulation on the coordination council of the heads of the competent authorities to counteract illegal drug trafficking in the CSTO zone.
The Collective Security Council took a decision on financial support of the organization's agencies in 2019.
The Collective Security Council is composed of the presidents of the CSTO member states: Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Armenia was represented by Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Kazakhstan presides in the organization now. Then the presidency will be handed over to Kyrgyzstan.
