Tajik president, head of Russia-led bloc discuss cooperation

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon on Monday met with the head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and discussed ways to expand the capacity of the Russia-led military bloc.

“At the beginning of the conversation, the honorable Head of State Emomali Rahmon congratulated Imangali Tasmagambetov on his appointment as the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and wished him success in his work,” a statement by the Tajik presidency read.

The statement further said Rahmon emphasized “the need to strengthen political cooperation, expand the international activities of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, increase the effectiveness of military, military-technical, and military-economic cooperation.”

“Also, the importance of strengthening the comprehensive work to counter the dangers and threats to security, including terrorism, extremism, extremism, drug trafficking, cybercrime and transnational organized crime was emphasized,” the statement said.

“During the conversation, views were exchanged on the situation in Afghanistan and other topical issues of the international and regional agenda,” it added.

The CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia consisting of six post-Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.