CSTO backs resolving crisis in Syria on basis of respecting its sovereignty

Moscow, SANA- Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on Tuesday affirmed support for all political efforts aimed at resolving the crisis in Syria on the basis of respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We express our support for international efforts, at the top of which is the International Meetings on Syria in the Astana format aiming at ensuring stability and security in this country on the basis of respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” secretaries of the security councils of countries of CSTO said in a statement following their video conference.

The participants hailed the efforts made by Russia to help Syria facing terrorism and the humanitarian works that it is carrying out alongside Belarus and Armenia to provide aid to the Syrian people.

They expressed concern over the use of terrorists who returned from the Middle East as mercenaries in armed conflicts.

“We draw attention to the increasing risk of the return of persons involved in terrorist activities in conflict areas of the Middle East and from Afghanistan to their countries, including to the member states of CSTO and using their expertise to launch terrorist activities,” the conferees said.

They pointed out to the efforts of the security councils of countries of CSTO to expand cooperation to prevent the penetration of foreign terrorists into their lands.

The meeting included representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

Nisreen Othman / GH.A.Hassoun