Sergei Lavrov: CSTO Proves Its Effectiveness in Practice

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, spoke at the high-level international conference Eurasian Security: Reality and Prospects in a Transforming World.

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that international relations are experiencing new, “truly epochal, tectonic shifts. We are witnessing the rise of a new, fairer multipolar world order.”

“The task of forming a new continental architecture of equal and indivisible security, open to the widest possible range of states ready for equal and constructive cooperation, is more urgent than ever. The goal of the conference convened on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Belarus is to ‘band’ Eurasia into a united space to counter common challenges in the name of ensuring peace and prosperity of all its peoples,” Mr Lavrov said. 

The Russian Foreign Minister emphasized the need to focus on the potential of the existing international structures, such as the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the CSTO, EAEU, CIS, SCO, LAS, GCC and ASEAN.

“A collective approach is in demand not only in the economy, but also in the field of security. In addition to the relevant programmes of the SCO and the CSTO, we see an opportunity to creatively tap the potential of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. As it is transforming into a fully-fledged organization, this structure could become a platform for discussion among like-minded people of the broad Eurasian agenda, including the issues of ensuring military and political stability on mutually acceptable bases,” said Sergei Lavrov. 

He also noted that Belarus is holding today’s conference under the auspices of its chairmanship in the CSTO.

“The Organization, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2022, is proving its effectiveness in practice, promotes the security of its members and contributes to pan-Eurasian cooperation.” 

In addition, Sergei Lavrov recalled the initiative of the leaders of the CSTO Member States to launch a dialogue between the continent’s integration frameworks to exchange views on the security strategies adopted in each of them and experience in their application.