Belarusian president says CSTO remains ‘integral part’ of Eurasian security

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday said the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) remains an “integral part” of Eurasian security.

“Our organization remains an integral element in ensuring the security of its member states and the Eurasian region as a whole,” Lukashenko said during an opening address at the military alliance's Collective Security Council meeting in the Belarusian capital Minsk.

Lukashenko said CSTO member states conducted a series of exercises during its chairmanship in the Russia-led bloc in 2023 to bolster the military component of the organization.

He said he announced the priorities of Minsk’s chairmanship during a session in the Armenian capital Yerevan last November. “Internally, we sought to increase the cohesion of CSTO member states in order to strengthen the organization itself, as well as ensure security and stability in the area of ​​responsibility,” Lukashenko said.

He added that the goal was to strengthen CSTO's role and significance in the international arena.

“Today we can state that the goals set by the Belarusian side in November last year have been generally achieved,” Lukashenko said, adding that it is necessary to find new solutions to strengthen the security of the members.

The CSTO meeting was also attended by the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, except Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.