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Russia to prioritize improving tools for fighting security threats as CIS chair — diplomat

Maria Zakharova recounted that the CIS summit in Bishkek in October had created "the necessary legal basis for aligning work [in this area] at a higher level"

MOSCOW, December 27. /TASS/. Improving mechanisms for countering security threats will be one of the priorities of Russia's chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 2024, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"Improving mechanisms for jointly countering traditional and new security challenges and threats will be among the Russian priorities [as CIS chair] in the law enforcement and military spheres. It is also essential for us to strengthen the external borders of the Commonwealth, and to build up the capacities of specialized multilateral mechanisms and programs," Zakharova said.

The diplomat recounted that the CIS summit in Bishkek in October had created "the necessary legal basis for aligning work [in this area] at a higher level."

According to Zakharova, Russia "will continue its efforts to pair integration processes in the CIS space." "In particular, to deepen its relations <...> with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in security," she pointed out.

"In the coming days, the text of the [relevant] concept will be published on official Internet resources. A presentation of the [incoming] Russian chairmanship’s priorities will be held at the CIS headquarters in Minsk on January 23, 2024," Zakharova concluded.

On January 1, 2024, Kyrgyzstan will hand over the rotating CIS chairmanship to Russia.