DUSHANBE, September 7, 2008, Asia-Plus – – On September 5, the presidents of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – gathered in Moscow for a meeting of the CSTO supreme political body – the Collective Security Council (CSC).
The summit examined questions of improving further the Organization’s operation in ensuring security in the CSTO zone of responsibility. The CSTO leaders discussed trends for the development of the military and political situation, including in the light of the events in South Ossetia as well as measures to head off emerging threats to collective security and results of implementing the decisions of the Minsk (20060 and Dushanbe (2007) session of the Council.
The CSTO heads of state also considered the plan for collective actions by the CSTO states to implement the UN Global Counterterrorist Strategy for 2008-2012 and the program for joint actions on setting up a system of information security of the CSTO states in the context of the policy for boosting functional possibilities of the Organization to respond to new challenges and threats, additional measures to boost anti-drug operations within the CSTO area.
The presidents also discussed progress in fulfilling the plan for coalition military construction, adjust the 2001 decision of the CSTO Council on the Collective Rapid Deployment Force for the Central Asian Collective Security Region and approved the provision on order of drafting, funding and implementing targeted interstate CSTO programs.
The summit resulted in signing of a number of documents, including a declaration, containing appraisals and approaches to the most urgent world and regional problems, including the situation in the Caucasus.
The CSTO leaders have manifestly condemned the Georgian aggression against South Ossetia and called for the strict compliance with the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan. The position was expressed in the declaration.
“CSTO member states are profoundly concerned over the Georgian attempt to resolve the conflict in South Ossetia by force. That attempt claimed numerous lives of civilians and peacekeepers and entailed severe humanitarian consequences,” the declaration runs.
The CSTO heads of state “are worried about the mounting military potential and the escalation of tensions in the Caucasian region and call on all states to evaluate the situation impartially, without applying double standards, and abstain from actions that may further escalate the conflict,” the declaration said.
They welcomed “the settlement principles elaborated by the Russian and French presidents and called for their fulfillment in order to prevent new attempts to resolve the conflict by force and to ensure regional stability.”
Kyrgyzstan handed over the rotating presidency of the Organization to Armenia. The next CSTO summit is scheduled to take place in Moscow in the second quarter of 2009
Speaking to reporters after the summit, Russia President Dmitry Medvedev said that the CSO leaders have censured Georgia over its actions in South Ossetia and backed Moscow, according to RIA Novosti.
“Our partners in the Organization have made an unequivocally negative assessment of Georgia”s actions, Georgia”s aggression in South Ossetia, and supported Russia”s active role, highlighting the need to ensure lasting security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” Dmitry Medvedev said.
He said that the CSTO member states “are deeply concerned by Georgia”s attempt to resolve the conflict in South Ossetia through the use of force,” leading to “numerous casualties among noncombatants and peacekeepers.”
As for the possible recognition of independent Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Medvedev said, “All the CSTO partners will make an independent decision as they should proceeding from general principles and international laws. Obviously, they will be guided with national interests. Russia thinks this is absolutely correct.”
Russia recognized the two separatist Georgian republics on August 26, but so far only Nicaragua has followed its lead.
The regional security organization was initially formed in 1992 for a five-year period by the members of the CIS Collective Security Treaty (CST) — Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which were joined by Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Belarus the following year. A 1994 treaty “reaffirmed the desire of all participating states to abstain from the use or threat of force,” and prevented signatories from joining any “other military alliances or other groups of states” directed against members states. The CST was then extended for another five-year term in April 1999, and was signed by the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. In October 2002, the group was renamed as the CSTO. Uzbekistan joined the Organization in 2006.
