Collective Security Treaty Organization and the problem of reducing new challenges and threats

The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Tehran has the honor to enclose herewith the Press Release of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan regarding to the session of Collective Security Treaty Organization the  (14-15 September, Dushanbe)

Collective Security Treaty Organization and the problem of reducing new challenges and threats

 Tajikistan, as one of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty, attaches great importance to cooperation within the framework of the association.  In 2015, the Republic of Tajikistan chairs the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

President of the Republic of Tajikistan, chairman of the Collective Security Council Emomali Rakhmon approved the “Action Plan to implement the decisions of the December session (2014). CSTO Collective Security Council and the priorities proposed by the Republic of Tajikistan for the period of presidency of the organization.”

This year the session of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the session of the CSTO statutory bodies – the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Defense Ministers, the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils and meetings of other working bodies will be held in Dushanbe.

The current members of the organization are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan.

The organization operates on the basis of strict respect for the independence, voluntary participation, and equality of rights and obligations of Member States, non-interference in internal affairs that fall under the national jurisdiction of Member States.

The main objectives and principles of the organization are to strengthen peace and international and regional security and stability, the protection of collectively independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Member States to achieve the priority that Member States give political means.  The Member States agree upon and coordinate their foreign policy positions on international and regional security problems, using, in the first place, consultation mechanisms, are joining forces in the fight against international terrorism, religious extremism, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, weapons, transnational organized crime , illegal migration and other threats to the security of the Member States.

The Organization may cooperate with non-member States to maintain relations with international intergovernmental organizations working in the field of security.  It is also authorized to conclude with them international agreements aimed at the establishment and development of such cooperation.  At present, within the framework of the CSTO taken active steps to establish cooperation with organizations such as the UN, OSCE, SCO, CIS, OIC, the possibility of a dialogue with NATO.

The basis of the military component of the system of collective security are the coalition (joint) groups of troops (forces) in the regions created to deter or repel aggression against Member States, as well as other operations.

To date, monitoring the drug situation, emerging on the territory of the CSTO member states and adjacent regions, suggests that the drug trade continues to grow, providing a devastating effect on the social and economic spheres of the country.  In this regard, signed a memorandum of cooperation between the CSTO and the CIS Antiterrorist Center, the Protocol on Cooperation between the CSTO Secretariat and the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure.

December 2, 2004 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on granting the CSTO observer status in the General Assembly.

March 18, 2010 signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the UN Secretariat and the CSTO Secretariat.

Collective Security Treaty Organization has supported the initiative of relevant UN agencies to develop and adopt a joint action plan to implement the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia.

In order to unify and coordinate the efforts of member states of the Organization for the further deepening and improvement of multilateral cooperation, in June 2005 established the Interstate Commission for Military and Economic Cooperation of the CSTO.  In November 2006 set up the Parliamentary Assembly of the CSTO.

Within the framework of the CSTO implemented a common approach, embodied in the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy.

Afghan issues are not left unattended.  In December 2011, approved the plan of activities of the CSTO to counter challenges and threats emanating from Afghanistan, which provides for practical measures to create “zones” of anti-drug and financial security belts around Afghanistan, the involvement of law enforcement officials IGA to participate in anti-drug operation “Channel” training personnel for the Afghan anti-drug agencies, and others.

In this regard it should be noted that the Republic of Tajikistan is one of the first in the late 90s called for the international community to pay attention to Afghanistan and to create a security belt around it.

An important aspect of joint anti-terrorist activities is the coordination within the CSTO list of organizations recognized as terrorist and extremist in the member states of the organization.  The structure of this list includes such structures as the “Al-Qaeda”, “Islamic Party of Turkestan” (formerly the “Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan”), “Hizb-ut-Tahrir-Islami”, “Muslim Brotherhood”, “Taleban”, “Islamic Jihad -Dzhamaat mujahideen, “” East Turkistan Islamic Movement “.

One of the most effective measures for the prompt response to today’s threats is a constant monitoring of the situation.  To this end, in the framework of the Organization in accordance with its charter, held regular meetings, consultations, monitoring the situation in the conflict zones and the CSTO responsibility.  Taking into account the frequent changes in the international situation, in the form of the common position is generated and there is a search for common solutions to problems.  It should be noted that the meetings at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, members of the Permanent Council and experts held on a regular basis.  To solve the primary tasks and coordination of joint actions of states – members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization held periodic meetings of plenipotentiary representatives of the UN, OSCE, NATO, the EU and other international organizations.  These events allow you to share more effectively defend their positions in these organizations.  It should also be noted the existing practice of informal meetings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states on the eve of the OSCE Ministerial Council and the UN General Assembly.

By strengthening its capacity and tools, the CSTO is becoming an important link in the international security system.  Everything becomes more substantive cooperation of the CSTO with the UN.  Continues the ongoing development of the relationships between the CSTO and the OSCE, which has developed a constructive dialogue to assist in post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking, as well as military and political aspects.

The similarity of tasks allows you to specify areas of cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a party to 4 of the 6 members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

April 2 this year  Dushanbe chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirodjiddin Aslov a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.  The Ministerial Council meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Mackay, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrisov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Erlan Abdyldaev and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The meeting was attended by CSTO OSCE Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Markus Mueller and head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Miroslav Jenca.

During the meeting of CSTO Foreign Ministers adopted a Statement of the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Treaty and collective security in connection with the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, discussed the need to strengthen international and regional organizations and increase their efforts to ensure security in Central Asia in the light of trends in the development of the situation in Afghanistan.  The meeting also discussed issues of strengthening cooperation in various aspects of security in the zone of responsibility.

19-20 May this year in the city of Khujand, the regular meeting of the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the CSTO, chaired by the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Tajikistan A.Kaharova.

On June 3-4  in Dushanbe held a regular meeting of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers, chaired by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan Sherali Mirzo.

September 14-15, 2015 in Dushanbe will be a joint meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers and the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the CSTO and the session of the CSTO.

To date, the existence of Collective Security Treaty Organization is an important factor of stability and security on the external borders of the organization.  The political foundation of the CSTO is a coincidence and similarity of views of the participants on the situation in the world, the general concern about the new challenges of global and regional security.

Tajikistan attaches great importance to participation in the CSTO.  Cooperation within the framework of this organization meets the national interests of Tajikistan and allows you to actively oppose international terrorism, religious extremism, drug trafficking and arms trafficking, illegal migration and in general to ensure the security and stability in the vast Eurasian region, as well as the territorial integrity and independence of member states.  Tajikistan is in favor of the CSTO in fact turned into a weighty factor in ensuring security.

Tajikistan believes that immediate and important task is to intensify CSTO military-political integration of the CSTO member states, coordination potential of the CSTO, the improvement of Member States in the field of military policy, military construction and military-technical cooperation.

 Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan

to the Islamic Republic of Iran