Collective Security Treaty Organization foreign ministers hold talks in New York

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members on Thursday held talks in New York on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

During the meeting chaired by Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, the top diplomats exchanged views on topical issues of the UN General Assembly session and discussed priority areas of cooperation between the UN and the CSTO, said a statement by the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.

Nurtleu informed his counterparts about Kazakhstan's position regarding various aspects of the Russian-led military alliance’s activities during Astana’s chairmanship, as well as his vision for developing the organization.

“The parties confirmed their focus on developing further mutually beneficial cooperation between the CSTO and the universal comprehensive organization,” the statement said.

It added that Nurtleu also held individuals talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov on the sidelines of the meeting.

Aside from Nurtleu, Lavrov and Ryzhenkov, the CSTO meeting was attended by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev and Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

The CSTO is made up of six post-Soviet states – Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.​​​​​​​

Armenia, however, has suspended its participation in the CSTO’s activities, as well as in the organization’s funding, primarily stemming from its dissatisfaction with the bloc's response to its security concerns, especially regarding the 2020 conflict with Azerbaijan.