Tuesday, May 26 2020 18:57

ArmInfo.The countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will study issues of cooperation in the field of biosafety in the context of the situation  with the coronavirus pandemic. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the  Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov announced this during a meeting of  the Council of CSTO Foreign Ministers via video conference on May 26.

"Coronavirus infection has become a serious experience that affects  the entire system of international relations, it has become a  challenge for each state and for interstate bodies. And today we have  to carefully analyze what conclusions need to be made with respect to  the activities of our organization," the Russian minister said.

He added that the potential of the CSTO is in demand for responding  to such threats, and in the interests of ensuring the health of  citizens of the organization's countries, it was proposed to consider  priority measures for the development of cooperation in the field of  biological safety.  

At the same time, Lavrov emphasized that the Organization plays a key  role in ensuring security not only in its area of responsibility, but  throughout the Eurasian space. He stated that the situation in the  world as a whole and the tense situation in Afghanistan will be  discussed with CSTO colleagues.  

In the context of anti-terrorist activities, according to the Russian  minister, the CSTO should pay attention to the identification of  foreign terrorists and militants, especially immigrants from the CIS  countries. According to him, the formation of common lists of  terrorist organizations will play an important role in this matter.  

Another threat to the CSTO countries, according to Lavrov, is drug  trafficking, primarily of Afghan origin, from which terrorist  organizations are funded. At the same time, he expressed his  conviction that the "Channel"  anti-drug operation is an important  deterrent in this matter. He also called useful the synchronization  of anti-drug operations within the CSTO with operations within the  SCO and the CIS.

"We consider it important to maintain a regular dialogue in the CSTO  format on the entire spectrum of security issues in the Euro-Atlantic  region in the interests of coordinating Allied approaches. Particular  attention is required to build the CSTO's peacekeeping potential.  Today we will continue to discuss ways to resolve organizational  issues and improve the legal framework. I hope that this will allow  the units CSTO to participate in UN peacekeeping operations, "Lavrov  said.   The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also  participated in the work of the CSTO Ministerial Council. The agenda  of the meeting includes questions about the state and prospects for  the development of the international and regional situation and its  impact on the security of the CSTO member states, on CSTO cooperation  with the CIS and the SCO.

Special attention is paid to the interaction of the CSTO member  states on international platforms, the development of the  Organization's peacekeeping potential and the institutions of the  CSTO Observer and Partner, as well as joint counteraction to modern  security challenges and threats.

It is planned to adopt a number of joint statements, in particular,  on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great  Patriotic War, on confirmation of adherence to the goals and  principles of the UN Charter.

In addition, draft documents on the consultation plan for the second  half of 2020 and the first half of 2021, as well as on the next  distribution of quota posts in the CSTO Secretariat, were submitted  to the ministers for consideration.