DUSHANBE
, June 23, Asia-Plus — Heads of state from countries making up the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have gathered in
Minsk
for the groups’ summits that are being held today.
According to information from presidential press service, leaders of the EAEC member countries are scheduled to discuss 18 issues, including the draft concept of EAEC international activity worked out by
Belarus
, and the question of legally formalizing
Uzbekistan
’s acceding to the community. The EAEC summit also will discuss a comprehensive program to reinforce and equip the boundaries of the EAEC countries. The EAC groups
Belarus
,
Kazakhstan
,
Kyrgyzstan
,
Russia
,
Tajikistan
and
Uzbekistan
. Leaders of the EAEC countries also will debate the possibility of a merger with the Central Asian Cooperation Organization, which groups
Kazakhstan
,
Kyrgyzstan
,
Tajikistan
,
Russia
, and
Uzbekistan
.
The CSTO summit is supposed to discuss the security grouping”s priorities and how to increase its effectiveness. The CSTO summit is supposed to focus on discussing sweeping reforms of the regional security organization and set priorities for future activities. The formation of joint rapid reaction forces is one possibility that will be discussed.
The CSTO members are
Armenia
,
Belarus
,
Kazakhstan
,
Kyrgyzstan
,
Russia
, and
Tajikistan
. Uzbek President Islam Karimov is attending the summit as a guest observer.
