MOSCOW, 17 February (BelTA) – Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas met with Chairman of the Committee of Secretaries of the CSTO Security Councils, Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan Nasrullo Makhmudzoda in Dushanbe on 17 February, BelTA has learned.
The sides discussed the organization of a session of the Committee of Secretaries of the CSTO Security Councils in Tajikistan in spring and the implementation of Tajikistan's priorities in the sphere of counteraction of modern challenges and threats during Tajikistan's presidency in the Collective Security Treaty Organization in 2021. The priorities include continued efforts to reduce tensions near the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, fight against terrorism and illegal drugs trade, and the counteraction of illegal migration.
Stanislav Zas said: “Work is now in progress to prepare and agree an interstate CSTO program on reinforcing parts of the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. We also set a high value on the organization of a special exercise Kobalt 2021 in Tajikistan this year. The Kobalt 2021 will involve command and control bodies and special forces of the CSTO collective rapid response forces and will focus on practicing fight against illegal militant groups.”
The sides discussed the organization of an international counter-drugs regional constant operation Kanal. The operation's team will be initially headquartered in Dushanbe this year. The main purpose of the operation is to close the channels used to smuggle narcotics from Afghanistan via the so-called northern route. A coordinating conference of chief narcologists of the CSTO member states is also supposed to take place in Tajikistan in April.
