There should be more cohesion in the Collective Security Treaty Organization against the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine. This was announced today, February 13, at a meeting with the Secretary General of the OBKB Imangali Tasmagambetov, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
“There are enough challenges. We took the risk of writing in the program during our chairmanship – to try to solve these problems that we have. Especially on the borders of the CSTO member states. I’m not talking about your experience in vain. Your memory is excellent. You know both the Caucasus and Central Asia well. We have problems there. Let’s try to resolve them and, as far as possible, unite the Collective Security Treaty Organization in these difficult times. You see what’s going on around the perimeter, – he said.
At the same time, Lukashenka stressed that all members of the CSTO need to unite and act together, because it is always easier and easier this way.
“If someone thinks that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is not our conflict, that we’ll sit quietly somewhere, nothing like that will happen. The time will come (it is not far, literally tomorrow) – it will require to be determined, to take a certain position. I’m not saying that to the detriment of national interests and so on. But with all our allied shortcomings, we will have to clearly define our policy, our line in order to act together. Together it is always easier and easier, — stressed the President of Belarus.
The Belarusian leader also noted that no one is pushing states to act contrary to their national interests.
“But we have to find compromises. Although we found them in the CSTO a long time ago and are acting as a single organization. I think that we have to go through this difficult period, and it will unite our organization even more on the principles that are necessary and possible for each state that is part of this organization. Let’s think about it together.” he called.
Recall that Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 2022. Belarus does not officially participate in it, but expresses its support for the Russian side. At the same time, official Minsk calls on Kyiv to stop the bloodshed and sit down at the negotiating table.
