FM Kazakbaev attends CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers

Bishkek, May 20, 2021 . / Kabar / . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev participated in a regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) held on May 18-19 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported that during the meeting, foreign ministers exchanged opinions on the state and prospects of development of the international and regional situation and its impact on the security of CSTO member states, including the development of the situation after the withdrawal of the American military contingent from Afghanistan. "The participants discussed issues of strengthening cooperation between CSTO and the CIS, the SCO, as well as other international organizations, the development of CSTO partner institutions and observers to the CSTO. Particular attention was paid to the coordination of activities of CSTO member states in order to create a reliable system of biological security," the report said. In his speech, Kazakbaev thanked the sides for their readiness to provide necessary assistance to Kyrgyzstan in overcoming the humanitarian consequences of the April 28-30, 2021 armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. On the initiative of the Kyrgyz side, a draft joint statement of CSTO foreign ministers on confidence-building in the border area was submitted, which reflects agreements reached and the intentions of the sides to prevent conflict in the border territories of CSTO member states. Prior to the CSTO Ministerial Council meeting, foreign ministers were received by Chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. The meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers resulted in a singing of 8 documents on further development of the collective security system in the political and military spheres, in countering contemporary challenges and threats. The meeting participants also adopted joint statements of foreign ministers of CSTO member states on the 75th anniversary of the verdict of the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, on strengthening of the Convention on the prohibition of biological and toxin weapons, on cooperation of the CSTO with states and international organizations, as well as a statement of CSTO foreign ministers in connection with the extension of the Russian-US Treaty on Measures for Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms of April 8, 2010. In addition, the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council approved a plan for consultations on foreign policy, defense and security issues for the second half of 2021 - the first half of 2022, providing for consultations on political, military cooperation and on countering challenges and threats. The next CSTO meeting is planned to be held on the eve of the session of the Collective Security Council in the 4th quarter of 2021 in Tajikistan.