Vladimir Putin took part in the session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Minsk.
The President of Belarus also participated in the summit Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Imangali Tasmagambetov.
After the negotiations in a narrow format, a plenary meeting of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO was held. On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration – Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Boris Gryzlov.
Following the summit, a package of documents was signed.
The session discussed key issues of interaction between the CSTO members, including further improvement of the collective security system, as well as current international and regional issues.
Alexander Lukashenko: Dear colleagues! Dear friends!
Allow me, by virtue of the established practice in the CSTO, to preside over our summit today as the host party.
First of all, welcome to the hospitable Belarusian land. I am sincerely glad to welcome you all to the capital of Belarus – the hero city of Minsk.
Today’s meeting of the Collective Security Council actually completes our Belarusian chairmanship in the organization. Formally, we will transfer the functions of the chairman to our Kazakh friends on December 31, 2023.
The year was rapid in terms of the development of the geopolitical situation, respectively, and the schedule of our work together with you was tense. Since spring, the Republic of Belarus has hosted almost monthly events through the CSTO: The Council of the Parliamentary Assembly, followed by inter–sessional meetings of statutory bodies at the ministerial level, a coordination meeting of the leadership of the relevant state bodies of the CSTO member states on countering transnational threats such as drug trafficking, illegal migration, emergencies, challenges in the field of biological security, cybersecurity.
A complex of exercises was conducted to conduct the military component of our organization. Less than a month ago, Minsk became the venue for a major international conference on Eurasian security, held under the auspices of the Belarusian chairmanship of the CSTO.
In other words, our organization remains an integral element of ensuring the security of its member States and the Eurasian region as a whole.
Exactly a year ago during the session of the Collective Security Council in In Yerevan, we announced the priority areas of the presidency of the Republic of Belarus both on the internal and external circuit.
On the internal circuit, we sought to increase the cohesion of the CSTO member states in order to strengthen the organization itself, as well as to ensure security and stability in the area of responsibility. On the external circuit, our goal was to strengthen the role and importance of the organization in the system of international relations.
Today it can be stated that the goals outlined by the Belarusian side in November last year have been generally achieved. Some of the activities have already been completed. The implementation of a number of tasks continues. Certain priority areas are of a long-term nature and have been taken into consideration by both the member states and the CSTO secretariat.
Of course, the results of the work are a collective success, the merit of all of us, the parties to the agreement. We would not have been able to implement our plans without the support of the priorities of the Belarusian chairmanship from friends and partners. Therefore, let me express my gratitude for the cooperation.
I am convinced that today’s meeting will be no less productive. Topical issues of international and regional security are on the agenda. It is necessary to analyze the main trends in the development of the modern military-political situation in the area of responsibility of the organization both in the world as a whole and in the region. It is necessary to find new solutions to strengthen the security of our States. And of course, let’s summarize the results of our organization’s activities for this year.
Dear colleagues!
As Chairman, I would like to traditionally declare the meeting open. I propose to traditionally hold a session of the Collective Security Council, first in a narrow format, and then a plenary session.
Vladimir Putin: Dear Alexander Grigorievich! Dear colleagues! Friends!
The Belarusian chairmanship and the team of all states participating in this meeting have been actively working throughout the year to strengthen allied ties within our organization on the principles of respect and consideration of each other’s interests and support. Thus, in practice, they helped to strengthen the key mission of the CSTO as a regional defense structure responsible for maintaining peace and stability in the vast Eurasian space.
Thanks to productive cooperation between the Foreign Ministry, the Ministries of Defense, the security councils, and parliaments, positions on topical political and military-strategic issues, acute problems of the regional and international agenda were quickly coordinated. Colleagues here have just been talking about all this.
It is important that the CSTO’s contacts with our natural partners, I mean the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CIS, have also developed this year.
I would particularly note the joint efforts being made to improve the collective rapid deployment and rapid response forces, the CSTO aviation and peacekeeping forces. A number of measures have been taken to maintain combat readiness, improve the management system and increase the training of military personnel. Now only Sadyr Nurgozhoyevich Zhaparov spoke about some of these events. Among them are the maneuvers “Interaction”, “Search” and “Echelon” in Belarus, as well as the peacekeeping exercises “Indestructible Brotherhood” in Kyrgyzstan.
Cooperation between the special services and law enforcement agencies has been consistently strengthened. In particular, the CSTO operation “Mercenary” continued, aimed at suppressing recruitment and blocking the channels of departure of citizens of our countries to participate in the activities of international terrorist groups.
Of course, I agree with the assessments of our colleagues, – the President of Kazakhstan has just said, – our countries, including Russia, do not accept terrorism in any of its manifestations and in any regions of the world.
We have jointly implemented a set of measures to combat extremism, transnational crime, illegal migration and drug trafficking.
The Coordination Council of the CSTO on Biological Safety has been launched. The focus of his attention is on the prevention of threats related to the development and use of biological weapons, providing radiation, chemical and medical protection.
The next meeting of the Council is scheduled in December in St. Petersburg.
I will also mention that military-technical cooperation between the member States of the organization is expanding. The Interstate Commission on Military-Economic [Cooperation] of the CSTO, created on the initiative of Russia, is actively involved in this.
And of course, it is very important that joint activities within the framework of the CSTO contribute to the unity of our states and peoples, preserving the memory of our common history and achievements. I am sure we will all be preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2025. And next year, 2024, will be the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus and the 80th anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad.
