CSTO will become more effective and rapidly responding to crisis situations - summit in Yerevan

The situation in the Kyrgyz Republic was discussed at the informal meeting of the heads of the CSTO member states in Moscow on May 8. A joint statement emphasizing the necessity of speedy return to legal framework of social and political life in Kyrgyzstan was adopted upon the results of the negotiations. The necessity of legitimization of power was emphasized as well. The Heads of State expressed their readiness to render humanitarian and other help to Kyrgyzstan. The situation in Kyrgyzstan has improved since the Moscow summit. However, the consequences of the riots were so serious that the Kyrgyz Government had to seek assistance from the world community and its partners in the CSTO and EurAsEC.

In this regard, another informal summit of Heads of the CSTO member states held last week in Yerevan was also devoted to the issues of rendering assistance to Kyrgyzstan. The presidents of six countries - Armenia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan took part in the meeting.

Presidents of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Russia Dmitry Medvedev made statements for media during the press conference held after the summit.

Reminding of the decisions of the CSTO leadership made at the Moscow summit, the President of Armenia said that during the Yerevan meeting the process of implementation of these decisions was discussed as well as the first results were summed up. The leaders exchanged views on further steps, confirming adherence to the decisions of the May meeting and agreed to continue consultations on stabilization measures in Kyrgyzstan. Besides, as far back as May the Heads of State addressed the necessity of formation of more effective crisis response mechanisms within the CSTO. During the Yerevan summit primary proposals on this issue developed by the CSTO Secretariat were presented as well.

"Taking into consideration the current situation in the region I presented our vision of further collective steps in this direction. We defined particular measures on further cooperation extension within the CSTO. I believe that realization of these plans will allow taking the Organization to a new, higher level. This meeting is an important step towards further development of the security system of our countries as well as the CSTO responsibility area", S.Sargsyan said.

D.Medvedev drew the attention of journalists to the fact that the CSTO, despite a short period of its functioning, had a real impact on the events in the area of its responsibility.

"It is obvious that a range of negative tendencies is mitigated due to the CSTO. Each of us can apply it to one of the protracted conflicts or problems existing in the Organization's responsibility area. Some of them are small, the others are bigger, but the CSTO has its positive impact on them", the Russian President said.

He noted that the Heads of State discussed the events in Kyrgyzstan frankly and correctly as well as the assistance measures that could be taken by the Organization. D.Medvedev noted that the issue of provision of an effective government in Kyrgyzstan was also addressed.

The Presidents of the Organization member states also discussed the report of CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha on the situation in Kyrgyzstan. The issue on establishment of a new, effective crisis response mechanism within the CSTO was addressed as well. The Presidents admitted that the events in Kyrgyzstan showed a necessity of strengthening of this mechanism. The parties decided to introduce amendments to the foundation documents of the CSTO that would be discussed at the Organization summit at the end of the year. These amendments will provide establishment of more effective institutions with broader powers. Experience of the NATO, European Union and United Nations will be studied in order to establish these institutions. Thus, an important step in reforming of the CSTO towards improvement of effectiveness and performance functions of its activity was made at the summit in Yerevan.

Another issue at the Yerevan summit was the transfer of the CSTO presidency to Belarus. The replacement of chairman will be held at the December summit in Moscow.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization is a military-political union of seven states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The Organization was established on the basis of the Collective Security Treaty as of May 15, 1992. On May 14, 2002 the CST was reorganized into CSTO.