MINSK, May 18. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko urged his allies at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for more unity and consolidation for the sake of preserving the national sovereignty and independence of all members of the alliance.

The Belarusian leader said with confidence that the motto under which Belarus is currently holding the rotating CSTO presidency, "Through solidarity and cooperation to peace and security," meets the interests of all CSTO member states.

"During its presidency, Belarus is set to make the necessary efforts toward more unity between CSTO member states," the BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying at a meeting with participants in a session of the Council of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. "It is in removing the existing differences that we see opportunities for strengthening the organization, and ensuring security and stability in its area of responsibility," he added.

Lukashenko recommended that everyone in the CSTO stick together and support one another, "as there is no alternative for preserving the sovereignty and independence of our countries." He also said this was a frequent topic of discussion with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

"We do not want you to face the same sanctions as us by the simple fact that you are cooperating with us," the Belarusian president said, as he called on his post-Soviet allies to resist any "attempts to tear us apart" during what he described as "a pivotal point in our history."

Lukashenko also invited the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly to have its say on the issue. "Strict adherence to the principle of the indivisibility of security as an indispensable condition for peaceful dialogue and for countering external pressure and sanctions would contribute to progress in this direction," he concluded.