Opinions & Interviews

YEREVAN, 14 October (BelTA) – The Collective Security Treaty Organization does not have to wait for the time when it gets recognized by NATO. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement in his speech during the session of the Collective Security Council in Yerevan, Armenia on 14 October, BelTA has learned.

The Belarus President said: “All of us have stated that nobody wants to recognize the CSTO, particularly NATO. It seems we are not the right sort. I was listening to this talk, thinking that they will never recognize us if we beg for their recognition. We have to force them to recognize our organization.”

Alexander Lukashenko noted that during lengthy restricted-attendance negotiations of the CSTO leaders the sides had discussed a large number of topics and had analyzed outstanding problems on the international agenda. “Along all the borders — the western direction, in Central Asia, and in the area of Afghanistan. We discussed conflicts and unresolved problems,” noted the Belarusian leader. “I have to admit that the prepared materials concerning priorities of our presidency are slightly subpar in comparison with the level of discussion we have managed to reach privately.”

According to the Belarus President, the sides agreed that a group of military specialists and specialists from other fields will be set up with assistance of CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha. “We will draw specialists primarily from the Russian Federation and other countries. We need to come up with good priorities in order to allow our organization to reach quite a serious level. We don’t want the organization to be feared but respected. We don’t want to beg for anyone’s recognition,” noted Alexander Lukashenko.

Priorities of Belarus’ forthcoming presidency in the Collective Security Treaty Organization will be thoroughly elaborated and forwarded to the CSTO heads of state, added the Belarusian leader. “I think we will be able to offer something good to our organization with regard to unity and respect from counterparts,” concluded Alexander Lukashenko.