Draft Agreement on Cooperation Between the CSTO Member States on Use of New Types of Weapons Discussed in St. Petersburg

On March 28, at the meeting of the CSTO PA's Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, experts and parliamentarians of the Collective Security Treaty Organization reviewed the draft model Agreement on Cooperation Between the CSTO Member States on Use of New Types of Weapons and Technologies.

This document is currently being developed within the framework of the 2021–2025 CSTO PA Action Plan on Approximation and Harmonization of National Legislation of the CSTO Member States.

The draft Agreement is aimed at ensuring collective security and compliance with the principles of international humanitarian law when using new types of weapons. The Agreement is based on a number of CSTO regulatory acts, including the Concept of the Action Plan and Tools for Countering Cyber Challenges and Threats, as well as the Model Laws on state secrets, protection of crucially important facilities and information security.

Natella Sinyaeva, Professor of the Department of Constitutional and International Law at the Prince Alexander Nevsky Military University of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, stated that the document will include a preamble and 15 articles, emphasizing adherence to the universally recognized principles of international law as reflected in the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions. She noted that the aforementioned draft Agreement is an important step in improving military and technical cooperation within the CSTO and strengthening of the Organization's collective security.