Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan to hold informal meeting in Bishkek

The heads of state are expected to discuss the ways of enhancing the system of collective security and the measures to counter challenges and threats coming from Afghanistan in view of the upcoming withdrawal of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2014.

In addition, the meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers and the Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils of the states members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the joint meeting of the three bodies will be held today in Bishkek.

The agenda includes the coordination of foreign policy within the framework of the CSTO, the areas of development of military cooperation in the CSTO in the period up to 2020 and the related plan of action, the list of compatible models of weapons and military technology and their characteristics.

The Secretaries of the Security Councils will discuss the interaction between the CSTO member states in the fight against terrorism, extremism and cross-border crime and also border security, taking into account the evolving situation in Afghanistan. The draft regulation on the coordination meeting of the CSTO chief narcologists is expected to be signed during the event.

The agenda of the joint session of the three bodies includes the issues regarding the status and structure of the system of collective security in light of the real challenges and threats to the security of the CSTO states members, a draft plan of ministerial consultations and draft documents on peacekeeping operations of the CSTO collective peacekeeping forces.