Session of the CSTO Collective Security Council. Sochi, September 23, 2013

The CSTO Collective Security Council decided to provide military-technical assistance to the Border Guards of Tajikistan to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border and made a statement on the situation in and around Syria September 23, this year The regular session of the Collective Security Council (CSC) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization was held in the sanatorium Rus in Sochi. The CSC includes the heads of the CSTO member states - Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. The chairmanship of the Kyrgyz Republic in the CSTO in 2014 passes to the Russian Federation.

Hearing the report of the CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha on the results of the Tajik-Afghan border survey, the presidents decided to recognize the adoption of additional measures by the Republic of Tajikistan together with the CSTO member states to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan section of the state border. Based on the request of the Tajik side, the CSTO member states within three months, taking into account their capabilities, will provide free military technical assistance to the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan.

At the initiative of the Russian side, a statement was made by the CSTO member states on the situation in and around Syria. The document says, in particular: “The CSTO member states are seriously concerned about the development of the situation in Syria and around it. They are in favor of achieving peace, stability, prosperity and progress in this country and the whole region of the Middle East.

The CSTO member states believe that external, including forceful intervention is unacceptable and can lead to even greater destabilization of the situation in this country and far beyond the region. In addition, any international intervention in the Syrian conflict in circumvention of the UN Security Council and in violation of the Charter of the Organization is unlawful.

The CSTO member states support the efforts of the Russian Federation to resolve the Syrian crisis solely by political and diplomatic means, and support the implementation of the measures agreed in Geneva on September 12–14. Russian-US proposals for measures on Syrian chemical weapons, based on the fact that this will contribute to the overall task of eliminating all stocks of chemical weapons. "

The CSTO Secretary General briefed the Collective Security Council on the implementation of the decisions of the December (2012) session of the CSC and the implementation of the agreements of the informal summit of the heads of the CSTO member states on May 28, 2013 in Bishkek, taking into account the priorities of the CSTO activities put forward by the Kyrgyz Republic in the Organization in 2013. Attention was focused on practical steps to strengthen the military component of the Organization, including the formation of the CSTO Forces (Collective Forces), and the phased implementation of the CSTO Action Plan to combat the challenges and threats emanating from Afghanistan (adopted at the CSC session on December 12, 2011 ). Instructions on the preparation of measures in the CSTO format to assist the Republic of Tajikistan to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border, which were adopted during the current session of the Collective Security Council, were also given during the informal meeting of the heads of the CSTO member states at the end of May this year. in Bishkek.

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, who took over the chairmanship of the CSTO CSC, said the Organization’s priorities for next year. To further transform the CSTO into a multifunctional international organization capable of confronting modern challenges and threats in its area of ​​responsibility and adjacent areas, Russia considers it necessary to focus on the following priorities:

1. Strengthening cooperation mechanisms to ensure security at the external borders of the CSTO zone of responsibility, including the development and adoption of preventive measures to counter the challenges and threats emanating from the territory of Afghanistan, in the context of the proposed reduction of foreign military presence in this country in 2014.

The development of close cooperation between the CSTO and the Council of Commanders of the Border Troops of the CIS member states.

2. Improvement of joint operational and combat training of command bodies and forces and means of the collective security system of the CSTO by conducting joint military exercises, combat training of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) of the CSTO and equipping them with modern weapons, military and special equipment.

3. Preparation of the CSTO peacekeeping forces for practical participation in peacekeeping operations.

4. In the field of combating modern challenges and threats to the security of the CSTO member states, first of all, drug trafficking, including from Afghanistan, and terrorism - the continuation of work on organizing local operations on the main drug trafficking routes within the regional anti-drug operation “Channel”, joint operational-tactical exercises of special-purpose units of anti-drug departments and internal affairs bodies assigned to the formations of the special-purpose forces of the CSTO CRRF.

Countering the spread of propaganda of terrorism and religious extremism, including through the national segments of the Internet.

5. Increasing the foreign policy coordination of the CSTO member states on key issues of international and regional security, coordinating positions at the UN and at other international platforms, preparing joint statements and initiatives on topical issues affecting the interests of the Organization’s member states.

6. Development of interaction between the CSTO and other international and regional organizations in order to increase its international prestige and address the challenges facing the Organization.

Following the CSC session, a communiqué was adopted in which a positive assessment was made of the dynamics of the development of the CSTO collective security system in all major areas of its operation, the establishment of the Organization as one of the fundamental tools to guarantee the security of the CSTO member states and stability in the collective security region.

The document, in particular, states: “The heads of the CSTO member states consider it important to implement foreign policy interaction, coordination and elaboration of common approaches to the development of the modern international situation. In this context, concerted actions of the CSTO member states in the framework of the United Nations and in other international forums take on a special meaning.

The Collective Security Council attaches fundamental importance to the prevention of external threats and outside interference, strengthening joint resistance to international terrorism and extremism, illicit drug trafficking and weapons, illegal migration and human trafficking, the use of information and communication technologies for illegal purposes, including through internationally recognized complex operational and preventive operations "Channel", "Nelegal", as well as "PROXY". The implementation of the decision to assist the Republic of Tajikistan in strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border is intended to make a significant contribution to solving these problems.

The Council attaches great importance to the formation of an effective system of collective response to emergency situations, including those caused by man-made and natural disasters.

In the framework of improving military cooperation, as well as enhancing the combat potential of the collective security system’s forces and means, it was reasonable and timely to approve the Main Directions for the development of military cooperation of the CSTO member states for the period up to 2020, the establishment of the Military Committee, the building up of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces equipment of modern weapons, military and special equipment. Thanks to the joint integrated exercises "Rubezh", "Mutual Action "," Indestructible Brotherhood "," Cobalt "," Thunder "increased the level of preparedness of the forces and means of the CSTO member states involved in them."

Lieutenant-General Alexander Studenikin, Chief of the Joint Staff of the CSTO, took part in the session of the CSC.

It was decided to hold the next session of the CSC in the second half of 2014 in Moscow. In total, during the session of the CSC, 8 documents were signed.

CSTO spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov

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