CSTO to become one of pillars of Eurasia’s security architecture

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has taken part in the meeting of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in Astana

BELTA

In the beginning of his speech, the Belarusian leader noted that he was to speak first, since Armenian colleagues had not come to participate in the meeting. “This actually characterises the current geopolitical situation in the region and, to some extent, our organisation. From year to year, we record that the situation in the world is getting worse,” he said.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the problem is not  due to the fact that the system of checks and balances that ensured international security and strategic stability has vanished, 

“We have been rocking for an unforgivably long time to create alternative legal mechanisms. Apparently, this state of affairs — when the norms and principles of international law are replaced by some subjective and situationally changeable rules, tools of military and information blackmail — is beneficial to someone.”

The Belarusian leader added that, against this background, the arms race is rapidly gaining momentum. The Eastern European region, especially Poland, continues to be militarised. NATO is intensifying its activity in Europe and in the world as a whole. Military conflicts and hotbeds of tension are expanding, covering the Middle East, Yemen, and the Korean Peninsula.
“Clinging to elusive dominance, the West is increasingly speaking the language of weapons, turning a blind eye to the threat of nuclear confrontation, fraught with the destruction of the entire planet,” the President stated.
At the meeting, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to a number of new tasks that the parties would have to solve when forming a new architecture of Eurasian security and strengthening the Collective Treaty Security Organisation. 

Point one

According to the Belarusian leader, it is necessary to strengthen the interaction of international organisations working in the Eurasian space. “In this regard, I propose to work out the issue of organising a meeting of senior officials of the regional organisations: ASEAN, CSTO, CICA, SCO, CIS, and the Gulf Co-operation Council. We have a proven mechanism for regular meetings of the leadership of CIS, CSTO and SCO. Why not try to expand this format in order to share unique interregional experience? We are ready to hold this meeting in Belarus upon your consent,” he said.
There, the parties could also discuss issues of enhancing co-operation between CSTO and SCO on international security issues in line with the decision of the Collective Security Council on the development of co-operation between CSTO, CIS, and SCO. The Belarusian leader stressed that the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation has a broad agenda on security issues in the Eurasian space, and this potential needs to be used. 

Point two

The necessity has emerged within CSTO to seriously address the issues of artificial intelligence and deepen co-operation in the field of information security. With this in view, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that this idea is not new, but the parties have not yet started practical steps towards it within the framework of the organisation.
“Meanwhile, Western countries are already dealing with this problem with might and main. We also need to think about how to increase the practical impact of the 2017 agreement on co-operation between the CSTO member states in the field of information security. We must keep pace with the rapid development of cyber technologies in order to effectively respond to the challenges and threats to the security of our countries in this area,” the Belarusian leader addressed the meeting participants. 

Point three

According to the President, new deadly types of weapons capable of destroying all of humanity are likely to be available soon. Laser, hypersonic, quantum, electromagnetic and other advanced developments have already been added to this arsenal.
“In our opinion, CSTO can and should be at the forefront of efforts to create a common contractual and legal mechanism that will allow for the control of such weapons in the future. This should be done now. At least, we need to start working in this direction,” the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced that the above steps will not just strengthen security in the region, but also contribute to the cohesion of the CSTO member states and enhance the image of the organisation.

belta

The leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation member states signed 14 documents following the summit in Astana, including the Declaration of the CSTO Collective Security Council, which expresses the CSTO’s position on topical problems of international security and is aimed to underline the fundamental principles of the organisation’s activities.
The sides also adopted a decision on a targeted CSTO interstate programme to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border and a decision to further strengthen allied relations within the CSTO.
The heads of state signed a statement of the CSTO Collective Security Council in connection with the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
The next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will be held at the end of 2025 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. 

Transnational challenges: international terrorism, AI, cyber threats

There are a great many transnational challenges and threats in today’s world that can and should be fought together — as stated by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The Head of State regretted that the West is spending all its efforts to combat fake problems that it itself creates, while there are a great many transnational challenges and threats in today’s world that can and should be fought together. A vivid example is the climate agenda, which Western politicians have long turned into a business.
“The EU fashionable ‘green deal’ is nothing but a project of unfair competition, working exclusively in the interests of Western countries, which are in the first row of those responsible for atmospheric pollution,” the Belarusian leader pointed out.

Aleksandr Lukashenko singled out the following problems:

International terrorism
“Terrorist organisations take every opportunity to remind about themselves. At the same time, Western countries refuse to co-operate in good faith with our organisation in the fight against this evil,” the President noted.
Artificial intelligence
According to the President, AI is increasingly being used to plan and solve military tasks. With its self-learning ability, this tool can destroy humanity if it is let out of control.
Information security and cyber threats
On the one hand, the Head of State noted, modern technologies create thousands of new opportunities and prospects. On the other hand, they give rise to many risks and threats: fakes, disinformation, attacks on critical infrastructure. “Traditionally, the West’s readiness for dialogue on these and other important issues is not seen,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

‘Russian Oreshnik missile had strong impact on global community’

When asked whether Russia’s use of the new Oreshnik intermediate-range missile would cool the West, the Head of State noted, “It has already cooled down. We can immediately see this from the statements in the media. It is true that there is no unified line in the West, everything has been going in different directions, which shows that they are a little confused. The weapon is definitely good. It is not a nuclear weapon, but in terms of its power it is comparable to a nuclear weapon, but without penetrating radiation and contamination of terrain and facilities. That’s why it has had such a strong impact on the so-called global community and especially those who thought that everything would be all right. It won’t.”
Referring to the Union State security, the Belarusian leader added that he made a joke in his conversation with Vladimir Putin, “The places for deployment are ready. When?”
“We’ll think about it,” was the reply from the Russian leader.

FOR REFERENCE

The CSTO was established on October 7th, 2002, and unites six states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
In accordance with the CSTO Charter, the main objectives of the organisation are to strengthen peace, international and regional security and stability, and to protect the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the participating countries.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by