OREANDA-NEWS. Vladimir Putin took part in an informal meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation member countries’ heads of state.

The key issues discussed at the summit included further development of the collective security system and improving joint operational and combat training of CSTO collective forces. Particular attention was paid to measures aimed at combating threats emanating from Afghanistan, in view of the upcoming withdrawal of international forces in 2014. The summit participants also talked about strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border, and measures to combat drug trafficking and extremism.

Address at the informal CSTO summit

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr Atambayev, colleagues, friends,

I would like to thank the President of Kyrgyzstan for this initiative and for the opportunity to discuss informally the most pressing issues of concern to us all.

Our organisation plays a significant role in ensuring stability in its area of responsibility. This is the main objective of its political and military structures, especially Collective Rapid Reaction Force and peacekeeping forces.

CSTO regularly organises operations aimed at combating drug trafficking, illegal migration and cybercrime, and holds joint military exercises. Last year, we held large-scale Interaction-2012 military exercises in Armenia and peacekeeping manoeuvres in Kazakhstan. This year Collective Rapid Reaction Force will hold exercises in Belarus, and the peacekeepers will train in Russia at the Chebarkul polygon in the Chelyabinsk Region in October.

Defence and military technical cooperation within the CSTO is supported by consistent efforts to deepen foreign policy coordination, and we discuss specific aspects of this work on a regular basis. We pay considerable attention to this matter.

I very much hope that today, in an informal setting, we will confer about the developments in Afghanistan and the steps we must take to respond to any changes in the situation there and ensure the security of our nations.

Once again, I would like to thank the President of Kyrgyzstan for this opportunity to meet and discuss all these issues.