Natalia Kochanova: CSTO forces must be strengthened

Collective Security Treaty Organization’s forces must be strengthened.
Natalia Kochanova, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, shared this opinion with journalists at the Minsk Bearing Plant during a discussion of the draft amendments and addenda to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, reports BelTA.
“Belarus was deeply concerned by the events that took place in friendly Kazakhstan. The situation in the country was horrible. It was frightening to watch the suffering of the people. In peacetime, people, children were dying.
As an active member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, we responded to the request from the President of Kazakhstan to help stabilize the situation in the country. We were there to help in difficult times. Our peacekeepers went there not to fight, but to protect the people and to help protect important facilities, such as airfields. We succeeded. This is a lesson for others, a situation that demonstrates that we will always stand together. I believe that the CSTO forces must be strengthened,” said Natalia Kochanova.
According to Ms Kochanova, the CSTO Member States should together solve important and challenging tasks they face, supporting and helping each other. “At the same time, having received assistance, each country will then deal with its internal problems independently. I am confident that the wise Kazakh people will manage,” stressed Natalia Kochanova.