Dmitry Novikov: CSTO States’ parliamentarians plan to appeal to parliaments of the world states to form an indivisible security space

– On October 19, 2021, at the meeting of the CSTO PA Standing Commission on Political Affairs and International Cooperation, the Russian Federation submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization a draft appeal of the CSTO PA to the parliaments of the world states to join efforts in forming an indivisible security space. Does this indicate an increased interest of the CSTO to cooperate with other countries and parliaments in this area?
Dmitry Novikov, first deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, who chaired the meeting of the CSTO PA Standing Commission on Political Affairs and International Cooperation, commented on the question:
– Since the end of the Second World War, there have been attempts to create a security structure that would protect countries, states and nations both from a world war and from local conflicts. There have been both major achievements and major setbacks along the way. The activity of various organizations such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which is responsible for security of states in a particular area of the modern world, within its area of responsibility, has convinced us that security issues can only be fully resolved at the global level. Such are today’s means of communication, weaponry and technological features of the modern world that security issues, I repeat, can only be fully resolved at the global level.
This does not devalue the work of regional inter-state blocs, unions or associations, because, first, they consider issues in relation to specific groups of countries, and second, because, before making decisions at the global level, they must also be discussed at the regional level, at the bilateral level. In this regard, over the past 15 years the CSTO has accumulated interesting interaction experience. Precisely because of this experience, the Organization has something to offer at a broader, global level to ensure world security. I am confident that the next period of CSTO activity has every chance to be even more productive and fruitful. The CSTO PA Standing Commission decided to forward the draft Appeal to the parliaments of the CSTO Member States for approval.