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Post-Soviet security bloc bolsters military component over year — Belarusian defense chief

"The main thing is to find ways to resolve these issues and this is what we manage to do," Viktor Khrenin said

MINSK, November 23. /TASS/. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has substantially bolstered its military component over the period of Belarus’ rotational chair in the post-Soviet security bloc, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said ahead of a CSTO Collective Security Council meeting in Minsk on Thursday.

"In brief, yes, [the military component has been strengthened]. We have the military component seriously bolstered," he said in an interview with the Belarus-1 television channel.

There is, of course, "more unity" among the CSTO member states but "contentious, complex issues are always present," the defense minister said.

"The main thing is to find ways to resolve these issues and this is what we manage to do," Khrenin said.

Aside from Belarus that currently holds the rotational chair in the post-Soviet security bloc, the CSTO comprises Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

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