MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Islamic State’s terrorist activities in Europe and the situation in Afghanistan pose a threat to the security of the member-countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), CSTO Deputy Secretary-General Valery Semerikov said on Wednesday.
"Terrorist activity of ISIS (former name of the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia — TASS) in Europe, the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan definitely lead to an upsurge in tensions and a threat to the collective security of our organization’s member-countries in its area of responsibility," he said at the opening of the session of the Military Committee set up under the CSTO Defense Ministers Council.
Also, the organization points with concern to "the growing threat of international terrorism."
"The terrorist Islamic State and an all-out war in Syria have led to significant loss of life and destruction. Terrorists’ actions violating all norms of humanity caused a massive influx of refugees from this region to Europe. This makes it possible for us to speak about the threat of a humanitarian disaster," Semerikov said.
For his part, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov noted that the situation in the world "was changing in its various regions, and not for the better."
Semerikov noted that the heads of state of the CSTO member-countries focused on the consolidation of efforts of the entire world community with a view to forming a broad coalition and coordinating actions to restore stability and security. He also recalled that the collective security of the CSTO member-countries would be considered at an extraordinary session of the Collective Security Council due to be held in Moscow later this month.