Vyacheslav Volodin: the priorities for Russia’s presidency in the Organization announced by the CSTO CSC Chairman and President of the Russian Federation are a guide to action

In his speech at a meeting of the CSTO PA Council, Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the CSTO PA and Chairman of the State Duma, elaborated on the priorities of the Russian Federation’s 2020 CSTO presidency, reports the website of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

“The priorities announced by the President of Russia for the Russian Federation’s presidency in the CSTO, as well as other decisions of our heads of state, are a guide to action and a main reference point in the approximation and harmonization of the laws of our countries,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.

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In his speech, Mr Volodin recalled that at the CSC meeting in Bishkek the President of the Russian Federation had set a task to promote the collective interests of the CSTO Member States through the expansion of political cooperation and coordination of positions, creation of favourable conditions for safe and stable development of the CSTO Member States and implementation of the CSTO Collective Security Strategy until 2025.

The second priority relates to the development of the equipment and personnel of the collective-security system.

“We must coordinate our efforts to form a single legal space that regulates, in particular, the use of cutting-edge technologies,” Vyacheslav Volodin said.

He recalled that it was necessary to improve the CSTO crisis response system, including the work of the Organization’s Crisis Response Centre, as well as mechanisms of information exchange with the authorized management bodies of the CSTO Member States.

“The Centre’s capabilities are now actively utilized for monitoring and information exchange to combat the coronavirus infection. We plan to continue using it to counteract common threats and challenges, including ensuring biological security,” stressed the Chairman of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.

The fourth priority set by the President of the Russian Federation relates to the need to enhance the CSTO capabilities in fighting international terrorism and illegal drug trafficking. “It is necessary to strengthen the efforts in forming the Single List of Organizations Recognized as Terrorist by the CSTO States,” Vyacheslav Volodin noted.

The fifth priority concerns the expansion of the CSTO peacekeeping capacity and training of the CSTO collective peacekeeping forces for participation in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly reminded that in 2019 the CSTO PA approved the recommendations on improvement of the CSTO Member States’ national legislation related to operation of collective peacekeeping forces.

In addition, it was necessary to strengthen cooperation, establish partnerships between the CSTO and international organizations and interested organizations, Mr Volodin pointed out.

“We also consider it necessary to continue the practice of adoption of political statements by the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly to outline our common approaches to the priority agenda,” Vyacheslav Volodin said.