Leonid Kalashnikov: CSTO PA focuses on defending the positions of CSTO Member States at parliamentary platforms

One of CSTO Member States’ challenges is asserting their positions on current international political and security issues, seeking consensus-based support and establish equal and respectful relations in the international parliamentary bodies in different formats. This issue was raised by Leonid Kalashnikov, member of the CSTO PA Standing Commission on Political Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the Russian State Duma, at a meeting of chairpersons of committees of the parliaments of the CSTO States dealing with international relations issues.
He noted that such activities of the CSTO PA as hosting coordination meetings of the heads of the parliamentary delegations of the Organization’s Member States in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on the eve of its regular sessions are meant to address this issue. The aim of such meetings is to work out a common constructive position on a certain issue.
“The practice of holding joint meetings of the heads of CSTO parliamentary delegations in the OSCE PA to coordinate joint positions was established in 2009. During this period of CSTO PA’ activity, about 20 such meetings were held,” Leonid Kalashnikov reminded.
According to him, this form of work allows to work out promptly collective decisions on urgent issues on OSCE PA’s agenda that affect the interests of the CSTO Member States.
Leonid Kalashnikov recalled other practical actions taken by the Assembly to strengthen international cooperation. For instance, work is underway to establish official relations with the Inter-Parliamentary Union; parliamentary delegations from the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, official delegations from the Republic of Cuba, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan participated in CSTO PA’s main events in April and November 2015, in November 2016, in October 2017, in November 2019 and 2021.
“The acquisition of observer status with the Assembly by the parliaments of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mongolia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam appears promising,” said Leonid Kalashnikov, stressing that the establishment of observer institutions and partners in the CSTO in general has created conditions for improving this institution within the Organization’s Parliamentary Assembly as well.
“The introduction of observers and partners in general within the Organization has created conditions for the improvement of the concept of observers with the Assembly,” Leonid Kalashnikov said.
“We consider the initiative of holding an annual meeting of the chairpersons of the committees (commissions) of the parliaments of the CSTO Member States, whose mandate includes issues of international relations, as one of the pivotal parts in the mechanism of coordination of foreign policy activities, in accordance with the international legal documents executed within the Organization,” stressed Leonid Kalashnikov.
Leonid Kalashnikov expressed his readiness to assist in granting the meeting the status of a body of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, should such request be submitted to the CSTO PA Council.