The head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) rejected claims that there had been discussions on the withdrawal of Armenia, which didn’t participate within the bloc’s assembly in Minsk on Thursday.
“There is currently no talk of the Republic of Armenia leaving the CSTO. The work of the Armenian side in the organization continues, multilateral contacts within the CSTO are ongoing,” Secretary-General Imangali Tasmagambetov informed reporters within the Belarusian capital.
Tasmagambetov participated within the alliance’s Collective Security Council assembly, together with the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Armenian prime minister didn’t attend.
Meanwhile, CSTO’s contacts with its “natural partners” such because the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have developed, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated.
Addressing the navy alliance’s Collective Security Council assembly in Minsk, Putin stated the Belarusian chairmanship and members actively labored to strengthen ties throughout the bloc previously 12 months.
Expressing that it was carried out primarily based on the “principles of respect and consideration of each other’s interests,” Putin stated positions on present political and military-strategic points, in addition to urgent issues on the regional and worldwide agenda, had been agreed upon by means of interplay at numerous ranges.
“I would especially note the joint efforts being made to improve the collective rapid deployment and operational response forces, aviation and peacekeeping forces of the CSTO,” he added.
The Russian chief stated measures have been taken by the bloc to keep up fight readiness, enhance command and management techniques and enhance the coaching of navy personnel, particularly mentioning latest navy workout routines in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.
“Cooperation between intelligence services and law enforcement agencies has been consistently strengthened,” he stated, including that he agreed together with his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s evaluation that their nations “do not accept terrorism in any of its manifestations and in any regions of the world.”
“It is very important that joint activities within the CSTO contribute to the unity of our states and peoples, preserving the memory of our common history and achievements,” he stated, indicating that the subsequent assembly is scheduled for December in St. Petersburg.
The CSTO is made up of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, together with Armenia and Belarus.
Kremlin regrets Armenia’s absence from CSTO assembly in Minsk
Russia regrets the absence of Armenian representatives on the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Minsk, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday.
The attendees of the CSTO summit exchanged views on Armenia’s latest steps in direction of the safety alliance, Peskov informed reporters on the sidelines of the assembly.
“Of course, the CSTO is interested in Armenia continuing its participation. We hope Armenia does not change the vector of its foreign policy, Armenia remains our ally, our strategic partner — both bilaterally and in terms of interaction in multilateral formats. We will continue to talk to them,” he stated.
The CSTO is made up of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, together with Armenia and Belarus.
The CSTO is a Russia-led navy bloc, uniting the six former Soviet nations.
Addressing the scenario within the Gaza Strip, the place Israel has killed greater than 14,500 individuals for the reason that Oct. 7 assault by Palestinian group Hamas, Tasmagambetov stated “the organization unambiguously stands for a cease-fire.”
The Middle East has at all times been bothered by the tensions and conflicts, however the present confrontation overshadows the previous variations, he added.
“Boundless violence, thousands of victims, including a huge number of children and women, this can in no way be justified by either political or ideological interests,” he burdened.
An settlement, efficient from Friday, has been struck beneath which Hamas would free 50 hostages held in Gaza, in change for a four-day humanitarian pause and the discharge of 150 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Israel estimates that at the least 239 Israelis are being held by Hamas following the cross-border assault by the Palestinian group on Oct. 7.
Israel has launched relentless air and floor assaults within the Gaza Strip following the Hamas assault, killing greater than 14,500 Palestinians, together with over 6,000 youngsters and 4,000 ladies, based on well being authorities within the enclave.
Thousands of buildings, together with hospitals, mosques and church buildings, have additionally been broken or destroyed in Israel’s assaults on the besieged enclave.
The Israeli dying toll, in the meantime, is round 1,200, based on official figures.
Source: www.dailysabah.com