12.04.2024
The 23rd meeting of the Military Committee on military cooperation development among the CSTO member states under the supervision of the Chairman of the Military Committee, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Valery Gerasimov, took place today via videoconferencing.
12.04.2024
From April 8 to 11, 2024, the XXI International Seminar-Meeting on Combined Martial Arts with the heads of combat and physical training of the security ministries and agencies of the CSTO member states took place at the Park Hotel "Horizon", Odintsovo District, Moscow Region.
The event was addressed by Gennady Troislit, the Deputy Head of the Organizational and Planning Department of the CSTO Secretariat, and Oleg Ufimtsev, the President of the Russian Federation of Combined Martial Arts.
The CSTO General Secretary Yury Khachaturov in the Izvestia newspaper on October 11, 2017 spoke about the activities of the Organization and commented on the upcoming CSTO exercises
12.10.2017“Peacekeeping is one of the key targets of the CSTO”
Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Yuri Khachaturov - on upcoming exercises and cooperation with the UN
October 11, 2017, 00:01
George Asatryan
Photo: JOURNAL / Alexander Kazakov
In April of this year, the representative of Armenia, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov, became Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In an interview with Izvestia, he spoke about the activities of the organization, the upcoming CSTO exercises, formats of cooperation with the UN and differences with the North Atlantic alliance.
- This is your first print media interview in a new position. Tell us about the main priorities of the CSTO. What successes have you already achieved, what are you planning in the near future?
- First of all, let me welcome the readers of the Izvestia newspaper and thank the editorial office for the opportunity to speak before such a wide audience. My predecessor Nikolai Bordyuzha repeatedly spoke on the pages of the newspaper "Izvestia".
The keynote of my work in the status of the CSTO Secretary General is to ensure the continuity of the line pursued by our organization in previous years. Indeed, over the 15 years of its existence, it has become entrenched in the status of an authoritative, multi-functional regional international organization that effectively operates in the field of security. And in the whole spectrum of modern challenges and threats. The trust placed on me by the heads of our states obliges us to make every effort to achieve our goals.
In June-July of this year, the CSTO statutory bodies — the councils of the ministers of foreign affairs and defense, and the Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils — were successfully held under the chairmanship of Belarus. Security issues were discussed, appropriate decisions were made and reference points were outlined in the areas of development of political, military and military-technical cooperation of the member states. In addition, we have identified priority areas, including the fight against international terrorism and information security.
Our main tasks for the near future are: the holding in November of the regular session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and a series of military exercises, united by the common operational-strategic plan “Combat Brotherhood 2017”, which, as you know, is the crown of the preparation of the CSTO Collective Forces.
- You recently returned from the UN General Assembly in New York. You also participated in the working meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states traditionally held on the margins of the GA. What are the results?
- Our organization gained observer status at the UN back in 2004. She is her significant regional partner. We have managed to establish cooperation in many areas related to security in the modern world. The CSTO Secretariat leads an active discussion with many UN departments. So, for example, while in New York, I held meetings with the UN Under-Secretaries-General overseeing the areas of our bilateral cooperation: in peacekeeping - Jean-Pierre Lacroix and in counter-terrorism - Vladimir Voronkov.
Given the importance of coordinating our efforts on the anti-terrorism track, a meeting was also held with the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate at the UN Security Council, Chen Weixun. I would like to note a meeting with the new OSCE Secretary General, Thomas Greming, who also arrived at the "ministerial week" of the UN. During these negotiations, mutual readiness and intention to continue to develop our interaction was confirmed.
On September 20, the traditional meeting of the foreign ministers of the CSTO member states was held on the margins of the UN General Assembly session. The main attention was paid to the problems of combating terrorism, ensuring stability in the world and regional security. Three joint statements were adopted: “On Countering International Terrorism”, “On Ensuring Comprehensive Stability in the World”, and “On the Situation in Afghanistan and the Threat of Strengthening the Positions of International Terrorist and Extremist Organizations in the Northern Provinces of the Country”.
- Were the issues of further cooperation between the CSTO and the UN, especially in the field of peacekeeping, discussed?
- Of course, they were discussed with all the main interlocutors. I can say that, in general, the CSTO cooperation with the UN is developing constructively and we are pleased with it. Our closest work is with such structures of the organization as the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office on Drugs and Crime, the Directorate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
We have embarked on a step-by-step connection of the CSTO to the global process of anti-crisis activities of the UN. Peacekeeping is one of the key targets of the CSTO for the long term. Our peacekeeping forces meet the basic requirements and standards of the UN, both in structure and in the level of readiness. A lot has indeed been done, a serious reserve has been created for the future, but this is clearly not enough.
Today, our experts are working to combine the needs of the UN with the available resources of the CSTO. As a result, we hope, opportunities will open up for the limited participation of the CSTO in international peacekeeping activities.
In this context, the formation of a police contingent from the CSTO peacekeeping force for engaging in UN peacekeeping operations is of great importance. Incidentally, this was an initiative of the UN Department of Operations, and we are working in this direction. By the way, we are planning to hold the “Indestructible Brotherhood 2017” exercise in Kazakhstan on October 16–20 with the invitation of UN experts as observers and consultants. In addition, at the suggestion of the UN, we are going to send two or three CSTO specialists for practical study and harmonization of UN approaches. I am sure that such an internship will be useful.
- Is there a potential for expanding cooperation between the CSTO and the OSCE? Do the two organizations have joint projects on anti-terrorism and anti-drug tracks?
- In fact, we are satisfied with the development of cooperation between the CSTO and the OSCE. In recent years, regular meetings of leaders of organizations. Work goes on at all levels. The tracks you mentioned are the most relevant for us.
“In recent decades, we have seen the process of NATO expansion eastward.” How do the CSTO countries intend to build their relations with the North Atlantic alliance?
- Today, the CSTO and NATO do not interact, although we could work together to maintain regional and international security, fight international terrorism, drug trafficking and other threats. We are constantly putting forward these NATO proposals. We started to do it in 2004. However, no response has been received to date. At the same time, NATO has in accordance with the “individual partnership plan” relations with each of the CSTO member states. NATO’s refusal to engage in dialogue with the CSTO is particularly regrettable given the current situation in the world, which is characterized by terrorist activity, persistent conflicts, and high crisis potential. And it looks especially incomprehensible against the background of the developing interaction of the CSTO with the UN and the OSCE, which I have already mentioned above.
- The Collective Security Treaty is 25 years old; the CSTO is 15. In honor of the landmark date, the organization’s forces will conduct joint exercises ...
- I want to immediately note that we did not set out to demonstrate something special in the jubilee year. In all matters, including the conduct of exercises, we focus primarily on our long-term plans, which are designed until 2020. The details of the exercises are contained in the plans for joint activities of operational and combat training for this year, approved by decisions of the Council of Ministers of Defense and the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils.
A distinctive feature of the exercises in the anniversary year is that, in accordance with the priority of the presiding Belarus, they are held in a completely new form of training for the Collective Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in the format of the operational-strategic exercise “Combat Brotherhood 2017”. This will bring the system of rapid response to emerging crisis situations to a new level and increase the operational readiness of the CSTO forces.
The doctrine “Combat Brotherhood” includes the teachings “Poisk-2017”, “Interaction-2017”, “Indestructible Brotherhood-2017”, as well as the teachings of rescue units. In total, more than 12 thousand people, over 1.5 thousand units of equipment will be involved.
Photo: JOURNAL / Alexander Kazakov
In April of this year, the representative of Armenia, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov, became Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In an interview with Izvestia, he spoke about the activities of the organization, the upcoming CSTO exercises, formats of cooperation with the UN and differences with the North Atlantic alliance.
- This is your first print media interview in a new position. Tell us about the main priorities of the CSTO. What successes have you already achieved, what are you planning in the near future?
- First of all, let me welcome the readers of the Izvestia newspaper and thank the editorial office for the opportunity to speak before such a wide audience. My predecessor Nikolai Bordyuzha repeatedly spoke on the pages of the newspaper "Izvestia".
The keynote of my work in the status of the CSTO Secretary General is to ensure the continuity of the line pursued by our organization in previous years. Indeed, over the 15 years of its existence, it has become entrenched in the status of an authoritative, multi-functional regional international organization that effectively operates in the field of security. And in the whole spectrum of modern challenges and threats. The trust placed on me by the heads of our states obliges us to make every effort to achieve our goals.
In June-July of this year, the CSTO statutory bodies — the councils of the ministers of foreign affairs and defense, and the Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils — were successfully held under the chairmanship of Belarus. Security issues were discussed, appropriate decisions were made and reference points were outlined in the areas of development of political, military and military-technical cooperation of the member states. In addition, we have identified priority areas, including the fight against international terrorism and information security.
Our main tasks for the near future are: the holding in November of the regular session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and a series of military exercises, united by the common operational-strategic plan “Combat Brotherhood 2017”, which, as you know, is the crown of the preparation of the CSTO Collective Forces.
- You recently returned from the UN General Assembly in New York. You also participated in the working meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states traditionally held on the margins of the GA. What are the results?
- Our organization gained observer status at the UN back in 2004. She is her significant regional partner. We have managed to establish cooperation in many areas related to security in the modern world. The CSTO Secretariat leads an active discussion with many UN departments. So, for example, while in New York, I held meetings with the UN Under-Secretaries-General overseeing the areas of our bilateral cooperation: in peacekeeping - Jean-Pierre Lacroix and in counter-terrorism - Vladimir Voronkov.
Given the importance of coordinating our efforts on the anti-terrorism track, a meeting was also held with the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate at the UN Security Council, Chen Weixun. I would like to note a meeting with the new OSCE Secretary General, Thomas Greming, who also arrived at the "ministerial week" of the UN. During these negotiations, mutual readiness and intention to continue to develop our interaction was confirmed.
On September 20, the traditional meeting of the foreign ministers of the CSTO member states was held on the margins of the UN General Assembly session. The main attention was paid to the problems of combating terrorism, ensuring stability in the world and regional security. Three joint statements were adopted: “On Countering International Terrorism”, “On Ensuring Comprehensive Stability in the World”, and “On the Situation in Afghanistan and the Threat of Strengthening the Positions of International Terrorist and Extremist Organizations in the Northern Provinces of the Country”.
- Were the issues of further cooperation between the CSTO and the UN, especially in the field of peacekeeping, discussed?
In April of this year, the representative of Armenia, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov, became Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In an interview with Izvestia, he spoke about the activities of the organization, the upcoming CSTO exercises, formats of cooperation with the UN and differences with the North Atlantic alliance.
- This is your first print media interview in a new position. Tell us about the main priorities of the CSTO. What successes have you already achieved, what are you planning in the near future?
- First of all, let me welcome the readers of the Izvestia newspaper and thank the editorial office for the opportunity to speak before such a wide audience. My predecessor Nikolai Bordyuzha repeatedly spoke on the pages of the newspaper "Izvestia".
The keynote of my work in the status of the CSTO Secretary General is to ensure the continuity of the line pursued by our organization in previous years. Indeed, over the 15 years of its existence, it has become entrenched in the status of an authoritative, multi-functional regional international organization that effectively operates in the field of security. And in the whole spectrum of modern challenges and threats. The trust placed on me by the heads of our states obliges us to make every effort to achieve our goals.
In June-July of this year, the CSTO statutory bodies — the councils of the ministers of foreign affairs and defense, and the Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils — were successfully held under the chairmanship of Belarus. Security issues were discussed, appropriate decisions were made and reference points were outlined in the areas of development of political, military and military-technical cooperation of the member states. In addition, we have identified priority areas, including the fight against international terrorism and information security.
Our main tasks for the near future are: the holding in November of the regular session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and a series of military exercises, united by the common operational-strategic plan “Combat Brotherhood 2017”, which, as you know, is the crown of the preparation of the CSTO Collective Forces.
- You recently returned from the UN General Assembly in New York. You also participated in the working meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states traditionally held on the margins of the GA. What are the results?
- Our organization gained observer status at the UN back in 2004. She is her significant regional partner. We have managed to establish cooperation in many areas related to security in the modern world. The CSTO Secretariat leads an active discussion with many UN departments. So, for example, while in New York, I held meetings with the UN Under-Secretaries-General overseeing the areas of our bilateral cooperation: in peacekeeping - Jean-Pierre Lacroix and in counter-terrorism - Vladimir Voronkov.
Given the importance of coordinating our efforts on the anti-terrorism track, a meeting was also held with the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate at the UN Security Council, Chen Weixun. I would like to note a meeting with the new OSCE Secretary General, Thomas Greming, who also arrived at the "ministerial week" of the UN. During these negotiations, mutual readiness and intention to continue to develop our interaction was confirmed.
On September 20, the traditional meeting of the foreign ministers of the CSTO member states was held on the margins of the UN General Assembly session. The main attention was paid to the problems of combating terrorism, ensuring stability in the world and regional security. Three joint statements were adopted: “On Countering International Terrorism”, “On Ensuring Comprehensive Stability in the World”, and “On the Situation in Afghanistan and the Threat of Strengthening the Positions of International Terrorist and Extremist Organizations in the Northern Provinces of the Country”.
- Were the issues of further cooperation between the CSTO and the UN, especially in the field of peacekeeping, discussed?
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