Opinions & Interviews

MP: CSTO needs to preserve unity, seek new forms of cooperation

MINSK, 5 September (BelTA) - It is extremely important to preserve unity in the CSTO, to look for new forms of mutually beneficial cooperation, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Valery Mitskevich said as he met with members of the Coordination Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Committees (Commissions) on Defense and Security of the Parliaments of the CSTO member states at the CSTO PA Council on 5 September, BelTA has learned.

“Let me cordially welcome you to the Belarusian land. We are always glad to have visitors. But in such a difficult time it is especially important to feel the reliable shoulder of a friend. This year the CSTO MPs have come to Belarus several times. As you know, Minsk hosted a meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in May. At the meeting with the members of the Security Council, the Belarusian president spoke about the importance of enhancing the role and significance of the organization in international relations. He emphasized that our country, within the framework of its chairmanship in the CSTO, intended to make every effort to strengthen the cohesion of its states. Today this call for unity is more relevant than ever. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting our peaceful initiatives and the constructive nature of interaction in inter-parliamentary organizations,” Valery Mitskevich said.

Both Belarusians and other peoples of our countries do not need to explain what war is, the deputy speaker emphasized. “Therefore, we persistently urge the world community to solve all problems at the negotiating table. The collective West pretends not to hear. It is becoming increasingly difficult to work both in the UN and the OSCE. Any initiatives that fall outside the Western agenda are blocked. In fact, these structures are gradually turning into instruments of influence of the United States and its NATO allies. The interests of other countries and integration associations are ignored,” the deputy speaker said.

“Therefore, it is extremely important for us to maintain unity within the organization, to increase efforts to promote joint positions and to seek new forms of mutually beneficial cooperation. Only in this way we can defend the sovereignty of our states and preserve peace in the CSTO zone,” Valery Mitskevich added.

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