A summit meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) took place in St. Petersburg, Russia yesterday.

According to the Tajik president’ official website, the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian and Tajikistan discussed their cooperation within the organization and important spheres of its activities.

The participants reportedly also exchanged views on key issues on the global and regional agenda namely combating terrorism and threats of extremism as well as illegal drugs and weapons trafficking. 

Besides, they discussed the current military and political situation in Afghanistan and issues related to providing security in the CSTO member nations.   

Speaking at the summit, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon reportedly drew attention of the CSTO leaders to the issues of change of military and political situation in many countries of the region and the world.

“The current situation requires more responsibility from the CSTO member nations to expand interaction and take efficient measures to counter any regional or international threats and challenges,” Rahmon said. 

Tajik leader once again called for boosting security on Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan as an important measure of joint fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and other transnational organized crimes.  

The regional security organization was initially formed in 1992 for a five-year period by the members of the CIS Collective Security Treaty (CST) -- Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which were joined by Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Belarus the following year.  A 1994 treaty reaffirmed the desire of all participating states to abstain from the use or threat of force, and prevented signatories from joining any “other military alliances or other groups of states” directed against members states.  The CST was then extended for another five-year term in April 1999, and was signed by the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.  In October 2002, the group was renamed as the CSTO.  Uzbekistan that suspended its membership in 1999 returned to the CSTO again in 2006 after it came under international criticism for its brutal crackdown of antigovernment demonstrations in the eastern city of Andijon in May 2005.  On June 28, 2012, Uzbekistan announced that it has suspended its membership of the CSTO, saying the organization ignores Uzbekistan and does not consider its views.  The CSTO is currently an observer organization at the United Nations General Assembly.