Mikael Agasandyan: Strengthening of Tajik-Afghan Border Will Reinforce Southern Borders of the CSTO

Mikael Agasandyan, Director of the First CIS Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that strengthening of the Tajik-Afghan border will reinforce the southern borders of the CSTO. He stated this in an interview to the Rossiya segodnya International Media Group.

Mikael Agasandyan pointed out that the CSTO will soon hold a series of maneuvers in Central Asia.

"In the coming weeks, a series of exercises are planned with various units of the Organization's Collective Forces on the territory of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, aimed at practicing joint actions to protect stability in the Central Asian collective security region, particularly taking into account the situation in Afghanistan. The future implementation of the draft Targeted Program on strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border devised within the CSTO will also strengthen the southern borders of the association," said the Director of the First CIS Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

He also noted that the experience gained by Russian Armed Forces during the special military operation helps to develop the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

"The Organization is a living and flexible mechanism that adapts to modern realities, as evidenced by the constant expansion of the range of joint work areas. Today, special attention is paid to such spheres as biological and information security... Traditionally, the CSTO's agenda includes strengthening of foreign policy coordination, development of peacekeeping potential, including opportunities to involve the Organization's contingents in UN peacekeeping operations," Mr. Agasandyan said.

Concerning Yerevan's participation in the CSTO's activities, the diplomat noted that "there are no alternatives to the CSTO and Russia as guarantors of the Republic's stability," and the position of withdrawal from cooperation "contradicts the interests of the Armenian people and significantly weakens national security."

"At this stage, the doors for Armenia's return to full cooperation with the CSTO are open, and mutual obligations within the Organization remain unchanged. We believe that the Armenian partners, having overcome doubts, will once again demonstrate their commitment to working together - it is one of the strategic interests of the friendly Armenian people," Mikael Agasandyan noted.