CSTO may create a chemical and biosecurity unit

The 18th meeting of the Military Committee of the Collective Security Treaty Organization was held in person in Moscow, at the congress and exhibition centre Patriot Expo belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Russia counts on closer military cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organization framework, said Army General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, in his opening address at the CSTO Military Committee meeting that he chaired.
“We expect this to become a good sign for closer military cooperation within the CSTO framework, and the results of the meeting to further deepen cooperation between our defence departments,” he said.
According to Zvezda TV channel, General Gerasimov recalled that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Military Committee could not meet last year; two meetings had to be held remotely.
The Chairman of the CSTO Military Committee informed the participants of the meeting about the staff changes. Lieutenant General Artak Davtyan was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.
Major General Viktor Gulevich was appointed Chief of the General Staff, first deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus. Major General Erlis Terdikbaev became Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Army General Valery Gerasimov congratulated his colleagues on their appointments and wished them success.
Meeting participants also included Lieutenant General Murat Bektanov, first deputy Minister of Defence – Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Lieutenant General Emomali Sobirzoda, Chief of the General Staff – first deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Tajikistan; Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff; and Takhir Khairulloyev, deputy Secretary General of the CSTO. The meeting of the CSTO Military Committee was held behind closed doors.
Before the start of the meeting of the CSTO Military Committee its participants toured the Main Cathedral of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Road of Memory museum complex and laid flowers at the monument Mothers of Victors.
According to the press service of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, one of the important topics of discussion was the work of the CSTO Crisis Response Centre and the creation of a joint unit for radiation, chemical and biological security and medical support.
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