CSTO summit participants demonstrate determination to fight against terrorism

Sept. 28, 2015 - PRLog -- The regular session of the CSTO Collective Security Council completed its work in Dushanbe on 15 September 2015. Adequate response to the biggest current military and political challenges, including an upsurge in activity by terrorist and extremist groups and destabilization of the situation on the CSTO countries’ borders dominated the meeting which was attended by the presidents of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The summit’s main focus was also on the results of unannounced inspections for carrying out the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces’ (RRF) objectives. It was noted that the goals were achieved; the CSTO crisis response mechanisms connected with use of forces and means of collective security were successfully tested as well as the combat readiness of the CSTO contingents to implement a package of measures in accordance with national plans.

According to the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambaev, expanding influence of “Islamic State” in Afghanistan poses a direct threat to security of CSTO countries.

“We are concerned about numerous cases of recruitment and departure of our citizens to participate in the armed conflict on the side of IS. Their subsequent return for continuation of terrorist activities and recruitment in their countries causes special vigilance,” he said and added that in such situation it is important to focus on solving practical problems.

The Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko said that smoldering conflicts were exacerbated and there appeared new hotbeds of instability in the Middle East, Afghanistan and near the borders of CSTO.

“Therefore it is important to pay great attention to the development and successful operation of CSTO RRF,” he stressed speaking at the CSTO Collective Security Council meeting in expanded format.

Meanwhile, the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan drew attention to the fact that the organization has passed its 20-year period of formation and stated the need for a new long-term strategy.

“This work should be continued in a systematic way, having clearly designated focus of development in the medium term. Therefore, I suggest as one of the first priorities to finalize the strategy of CSTO collective security until 2025, and adopt it in 2016,” he said.

In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled that Islamic State controls significant stretches of territory and plans to expand its activities to Europe and Asia.

“Basic common sense and a sense of responsibility for global and regional security require the international community to join forces against this threat. We need to set aside geopolitical ambitions, leave behind so-called double standards and the policy of direct or indirect use of individual terrorist groups to achieve one’s own opportunistic goals, including changes in undesirable governments and regimes. As you know, Russia has proposed rapidly forming a broad coalition to counteract the extremists. It must unite everyone who is prepared to make, or is already making, an input into fighting terrorism, just as Iraq and Syria’s armed forces are doing today. We support the Syrian government – I want to say this – in countering terrorist aggression. We provide and will continue to provide the necessary military technology assistance and urge other nations to join in,” the Russian leader said.

According to him, the CSTO countries plan to continue strengthening cooperation between their armed forces.

“We plan a whole set of activities in this area. I would like to also stress that our cooperation within the CSTO framework is certainly not directed against anybody. We are open to constructive cooperation, and that is precisely the approach that is reinforced in the final statement,” Vladimir Putin stressed.

Commenting on the results of the summit, Ivan Monkov, research fellow at the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies, department of regional security problems, called the CSTO session a significant step towards a sustainable system of collective security in the region.

“Growing international tension, isolation of Moscow and terrorist threat from gaining influence “Islamic state” necessitate increasing the combat capability of the organization. In this regard, the main attention in Dushanbe was focused on the development of the military component of the association. Reports on the results of unannounced inspections of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force and joint exercises prove that the organization is able to respond to possible crisis situations on the borders of the CSTO which can no longer be linked to the exclusive competence of one country,” he said in an interview to “PenzaNews.”

According to the expert, the most important result of the summit was signing an agreement on collective aviation forces of the CSTO and an agreement in the field of transport of military and other formations, movable property and military products. Initial discussion on the creation of collective air defense system was also considered significant.

“As for terrorism, it is the first time in the 20-year history of the organization when member countries face the need to confront the real external threat posed by international terrorist group IS which is spreading its influence on Afghanistan. This fact calls for greater defense capability of the organization and readiness for rapid crisis response,” the agency interlocutor said.

Full text news agency "PenzaNews":http://penzanews.ru/en/opinion/59606-2015