MOSCOW, 17 February (BelTA) – The Defense Ministers Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are set to meet in Dushanbe in spring 2021, CSTO spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov told BelTA following the meeting of CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas and Chairman of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council, Defense Minister of Tajikistan Sherali Mirzo on 17 February.
“The parties discussed the meeting of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council in Dushanbe this spring, and also military, military-technical and military-economic cooperation within the CSTO and the implementation of Tajikistan's priority activities in these areas for the period of Tajikistan's presidency in the organization in 2021. Stanislav Zas underlined the importance of increasing the level of readiness of the collective security forces to fulfill their tasks, including through joint operational and combat training. The matter concerned improvements to the Collective Rapid Response Forces management system, enhancing the level of training of the CSTO peacekeeping forces and equipping them with modern weapons, military and special equipment and means, taking into account their possible involvement in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN,” the spokesman said.
The defense minister of Tajikistan and the CSTO secretary general discussed upcoming exercises of collective security forces, due to take place in Tajikistan in 2021. They include a joint exercise with the CSTO Collective Rapid Response Forces Interaction 2021, a special exercise with the forces and means of intelligence Search 2021, a special exercise with the forces and means of logistical support of troops (collective forces) of the CSTO Echelon 2021.
Stanislav Zas also met with Chairman of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council and Tajikistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirodjiddin Mukhriddin.
“The parties discussed the implementation of the priorities proposed by Tajikistan for the period of the country's presidency in the organization in 2021. They include specific activities in the political, military, military-economic and military-technical areas, as well as cooperation in counteracting challenges and threats to the security of member states. They discussed the organization of meetings of the CSTO bodies in 2021 and the exercises of the collective forces in Tajikistan. The CSTO secretary general and the Tajikistan minister of foreign affairs discussed the situation in the Central Asian region and measures to reduce tension in the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border area,” the spokesperson said.
Stanislav Zas and the minister of foreign affairs of Tajikistan exchanged views on the work algorithms of the organization's member states and the CSTO Secretariat to expand cooperation with interested countries and international organizations, including in order to include them in CSTO activities as observers and partners.
