MOSCOW, 4 September (BelTA) – Heightened tensions, terrorism, growing potential for conflict in various parts of the world, increased military activity, including near the borders of the CSTO zone require a deep comprehensive analysis, informed assessment, and joint efforts in response, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said as he took part in a joint meeting of the defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states in Moscow on 4 September, BelTA learned from the CSTO spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov.
“The consolidation of efforts to ensure global and regional security is especially important today,” Stanislav Zas said.
According to him, a sincere exchange of opinions about global and regional security between the CIS, SCO, and CSTO member states is a brand new format of cooperation between the defense agencies. “We believe that such communication will enable us to give an unbiased and comprehensive assessment of the geopolitical, military, and strategic situation in the world and to develop common response measures to the modern challenges and threats,” he said.
The CSTO actively works with the CIS and SCO and views this cooperation as a means to strengthen security and stability in Eurasia, Stanislav Zas noted. “Promotion of this cooperation is one the CSTO priorities,” he mentioned. According to Stanislav Zas, this joint meeting of the defense ministers manifests a gradual development of the military cooperation between the defense agencies of the CSTO, CIS, and SCO. “This is bound to bear fruit and strengthen the role of our countries and organizations in ensuring global and regional security,” Stanislav Zas believes.
Members of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council signed several documents at the meeting, including a draft plan of consultations on foreign policy, security, and defense between representatives of the CSTO member states in H2 of 2020 – H1 of 2021; a draft agreement on joint training of command bodies, troops, and assets of the CSTO collective security system in 2021; a decision to set up a working group on radio warfare to coordinate cooperation between military agencies of the CSTO members states' armed forces.