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CSTO discuss using its forces for prevention of coup d'·tat – view

“Of course, nobody will start a front or a war against us, but quite many are anxious to organise a constitution coup,” Lukashenko said

MINSK, August 30 (Itar-Tass) —— Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko says that the CSTO member countries are discussing use of the collective rapid reaction force in case of coup d'·tat in the CSTO countries.

“The discussion is not only about using collective rapid reaction force in cases of other countries’ interference from outside, but also in cases of other countries’ interference inside the CSTO countries,” he said on Tuesday during a meeting with the CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha. This would be a major support for the member countries, he said.

“Of course, nobody will start a front or a war against us, but quite many are anxious to organise a constitution coup,” Lukashenko said, adding “we should protect integrity and independence of the CSTO countries.”

Alexander Lukashenko noted, that over a meeting in Sochi with Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev they discussed issues which had been on the agenda of the CSTO summit in Astana, including additional armament for the collective rapid reaction force, as well as membership in the CSTO, connected with Uzbekistan’s position.

“We have agreed with Russia, that we should act on a permanent basis, in the united manner, so that to keep the organisation,” Lukashenko said. “If somebody is unwilling to follow the organisation’s chartered functions, he is free to leave it and not be in the way of the others.”

The meeting discussed specifically the suggestions, voiced at the summit in Astana, regarding foreign military bases located in the CSTO countries. The CSTO’s Council of member-countries’ leaders is expected to discuss this matter.

Alexander Lukashenko said also that if all items on the agenda in Astana will be implemented, it would be a break-through, “especially in use of the collective rapid reaction force.”

Nikolai Bordyuzha, in his turn, informed that all instructions of the informal summit in Astana “formalised in the document” had been analysed. All processed issues are expected to be presented in December for further implementation by the CSTO member countries.

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