All news

Belarus parliament says Uzbekistan walkout not to be loss for CSTO

Uzbekistan’s decision was not unexpected

MINSK, June 29 (Itar-Tass) —— Uzbekistan’s walkout from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will not be a loss for the organization, deputy chairman of the Commission for International Affairs and Ties with the CIS of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Vladimir Kuzhanov, told reporters on Friday. “I believe that Uzbekistan’s walkout from the CSTO will not be some loss today. The active work continues on these floors,” the lawmaker said.

Uzbekistan’s decision was not unexpected, the country did not participate actively in the CSTO activities, he said. “It is high time for Uzbekistan to decide on participation and cooperation in the CSTO: such approach that I want it today, but do not want it tomorrow is just not serious,” the deputy believes.

Praising highly the cooperation between the CSTO states to work out joint decisions to tackle modern challenges and threats, he noted that the organization is gaining strength. “In this situation I would not put the CSTO future in question,” Kuzhanov said.

Over Uzbekistan’s suspension of its CSTO membership the Belarusian Foreign Ministry stated that the country will develop an official position by a meeting of the CSTO founding bodies, which will consider this issue.