"If this is the destiny for Belarus to lead all the integration bodies this year, we will do it with dignity," said Alexander Lukashenko. - "We will remain committed to integration processes, including in the military sphere, but will clearly follow our interests. The interests of Belarus should be respected in all integration associations, including within the CSTO. They absolutely coincide with the interests of the neighboring countries and especially the members of the organization. They coincide with the interests of both Russia and other CSTO members. And they are not contrary to the interests of Ukraine, our main southern neighbor. At least, we have done and will do everything to make Ukraine peaceful and calm," Alexander Lukashenko said. - "This is our position, coming again from the mentality of the Belarusian people. We will stick to it," said Alexander Lukashenko.
А. Lukashenko: the interests of Belarus should be observed.
Among the programs relevant to the CSTO for this year, special attention is paid to combating drug trafficking. A new draft anti-drug strategy for the next 5 years is being developed. There are also plans for 7 joint exercises, including "Unbreakable Brotherhood - 2020" to be held in Belarus. The heads of state of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will soon have to identify the countries which will be able to obtain partner and observer status in the CSTO. On the initiative of our country, a decision has been taken to legally formalize these statuses in the military and political bloc.
Stanislav Zas, CSTO Secretary-General: "The decision has been adopted; it has been ratified by practically all CSTO member states, except Tajikistan, it is considered to have entered into force. Now there will be concrete work with those states that are considered as potential candidates for these statuses. It is necessary to determine the countries and build concrete work and to form a good-neighborhood belt around our military and political bloc".
