Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 8 February (BelTA) - All the priorities of Belarus’ presidency in the CSTO in 2017 were executed, CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov told a press conference in Moscow on 8 February, BelTA has learned.

“Virtually all the priorities that Belarus laid out for its presidency in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2017 have been implemented. This greatly increased the efficiency of our activities on all fronts: foreign policy, military cooperation, countering challenges and threats and others,” he said.

The CSTO deputy secretary general stressed that Belarus’ presidency was very effective. “Priorities were very elaborate. They covered the entire range of our interaction,” he noted.

For example, the proposal to strengthen the foreign policy coordination between the states parties and to increase the CSTO’s authority in the international arena was put into practice. In 2017 the organization adopted 14 statements on various international issues, including four statements at the level of the heads of state.

Work continued to strengthen the military capacity of the CSTO, Valery Semerikov added. “Belarus also suggested establishing an institute of partnership with the states that share the position of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and this proposal received thorough consideration ,” Valery Semerikov underlined. He expressed confidence that the institute will be launched this year.