Security in Central Asia and Afghanistan Is a Key Priority for CSTO, CIS, and SCO

Representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met in Moscow on October 16 for a conference on regional security.

The main focus was security and stability in Central Asia and developments in Afghanistan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the plenary session.

"Amid growing geopolitical tensions and the fragmentation of the global economy, harnessing the potential of our shared organizations, first and foremost the CSTO, the CIS, the SCO and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), is particularly important for the steady development of Central Asia," Lavrov said.

“As the role of Greater Eurasia grows in the emerging multipolar world, Central Asia, which is becoming a symbol of stability and dynamic development, can serve as an example of constructive interstate cooperation," Taalatbek Masadykov, CSTO Secretary General, pointed out in his speech.

CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev stated that pooling the capabilities of the three largest regional organizations, the CIS, the CSTO and the SCO, is becoming a key stabilizing factor in Eurasia.

Ahmad Saidmurodzoda, SCO deputy Secretary General, pointed out the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is is gaining appeal for outside partners, with 22 countries applying to join.

The CSTO Parliamentary Assembly has long given priority to interparliamentary and interstate cooperation on Eurasian security. Sergei Pospelov, Executive Secretary of the CSTO PA, represented the Assembly at the conference.

"Security architecture in Central Asia depends directly on the coordination of our actions. In this dialogue, the Parliamentary Assembly's task is to ensure proactive legislative regulation for the joint fight against extremism and transnational crime, building on our partnership with colleagues in the CIS and the SCO," Sergei Pospelov said.