June 22, 2005 - 12:50 AMT
RUSSIA ASSUMED PRESIDENCY AT CSTO COUNCIL OF FMs
Russia has assumed presidency of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Council of Foreign Ministers ( CSTO CFMs ) for a term of one year. The decision was passed at the CSTO CFMs session in Moscow June 22, reported the Press Service of the Foreign Ministry of Russia. Armenian, Belarus, Kazakh, Tajik, Russian FMs and acting FM of Kyrgyzstan took part in the meeting. They discussed questions of development of military and political situation in the CSTO responsibility zone, including issues of coordination of activities of the member states in post-conflict rehabilitation of Afghanistan. Besides, the Ministers discussed in detail a number of documents referring to the main aspects of further development of the CSTO in the military, political and other fields in next years. Matters of interaction with the UN and other regional and international organizations were also touched upon. The FMs adopted a Statement on Ratification of the Agreement on Adaptation of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty. The CSTO CFMs approved of the plan of consultations of representatives of CSTO member states on foreign policy, security and defense for the latter half of 2005 - former half of 2006. A decision is made to hold the next meeting of the CSTO CFMs in Moscow in autumn 2005.