Lukashenko on deployment of CSTO Peacekeeping Forces in Kazakhstan
When speaking at a special session of the CSTO Collective Security Council, Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded the meeting participants that Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, had repeatedly spoken about the risks and threats related to creation of terrorist and extremist sleeping cells in Central Asia which might once come to the surface
“We took this into account but probably underestimated the risks. Let’s be clear here: we thought this trouble would pass us by. Meanwhile, we see that professional terrorist fighters constitute the main backbone of protesters in Kazakhstan. This is a very dangerous trend,” the President of Belarus said.
Speaking of instigators and organisers of the events in Kazakhstan, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the same forces as in other countries are behind this, “I am sure that organisers and leaders of the events in Kazakhstan are deeply hidden. However, I am absolutely convinced that, in Kazakhstan, we will come to the same point – like in Belarus, in other countries.”
At the same time, the President noted the timeliness and efficiency of the decision on deployment of the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces in Kazakhstan, “Our efforts have had a sobering effect on destructive elements, while demonstrating close inter-allied ties, capacity and potential of the organisation to the whole world. Based on this lesson, we need to improve both the CSTO manageability and the forces that we are ready to use.”
