CSTO finalizes size and disposition of peacekeeping forces

According to BelTA, the minister added that this issue is to be reconciled at a December session of the CSTO.

Yury Zhadobin expressed hope that the CSTO peacekeeping forces will gear up for their service by the time the CSTO and the UN finalize their cooperation strategy.

The participants of the session discussed the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility and the necessary efforts to maintain stability in the region. A special emphasis was placed on Belarus' initiatives. In particular, the parties discussed providing the collective rapid response forces with the latest weapons and equipment. "We hope the relevant program will be launched in the near term," Yury Zhadobin said.

Besides, the parties considered the interstate classification system of military hardware of the CSTO member states.

CSTO General Secretary Nikolai Bordyuzha reminded that a joint business game was played by plenipotentiary representatives of the member states within the framework of the CSTO in May 2011. The game helped work out an action plan to prevent and resolve hostilities in the CSTO area of responsibility. According to Nikolai Bordyuzha, it revealed not only positive things, but also a number of problems that need to be addressed.

The session of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council was presided by Belarus. Taking part in the session were defense ministries and deputy defense ministries of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

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