MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a post-Soviet security bloc, is expected to become one of the key components in creating a new security system in Eurasia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the CSTO, Viktor Vasilyev, said in an interview with the "Allies.CSTO" media outlet.
"Today, geopolitics demands a stronger emphasis on geography and the natural shared proximity within the Eurasian continent. Building on this objective factor, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the idea of creating a security architecture in Eurasia, which would rely on existing cooperative structures in this region," Vasilyev noted. "The CSTO has the potential to become one of the key components of this developing system."
Vasilyev emphasized that the further development of the CSTO’s trilateral interaction format with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States aims to strengthen regional security and stability in Eurasia, as well as to shape a new framework for cooperation in security, economy, and humanitarian efforts.
He also highlighted that concrete steps are being actively developed to implement the decision of the CSTO Collective Security Council on "Practical measures to strengthen cooperation between the CSTO, CIS, and SCO." This includes fostering bilateral and trilateral collaboration between these organizations across various domains.
"The CSTO continues to monitor challenges and threats linked to the Afghan issue, coordinating efforts to counter them through the capabilities of the CSTO's Working Group on Afghanistan under the Foreign Ministers' Council," Vasilyev added.
According to him, work on the Eurasian Charter of diversity and multipolarity in the 21st century has garnered interest from specialized UN structures and other international organizations. "Such a document is highly sought after, and Russia, along with Belarus, is actively leading its development," he stated.
"Relevant joint inter-organizational efforts, including those involving the CSTO, will contribute to strengthening cooperation and forming a common security space in Eurasia," Vasilyev concluded.