The Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Beibut Atamkulov recently participated in a meeting in Bishkek of the Foreign Ministers' Council (FMC) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

During the meeting, the CSTO Foreign Ministers compared notes on the international and regional situation, discussed the organization's current state and prospects for its development, and reviewed measures to counter current global challenges and threats.

In his speech, the Kazakh Foreign Minister paid special attention to the First President of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev's initiative for a new “3D” geopolitical reality, envisaging the development of dialogue between leading world powers and international organizations to find ways to strengthen confidence and ease international tensions.

During preparation for the CSTO Collective Security Council session, the Foreign Ministers' Council agreed on measures to reduce possible tensions along the Tajik-Afghan border, a collective action plan to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy for 2019-2021, and the CSTO Crisis Response Center coordination protocol.

The Foreign Ministers also approved the List of Joint Statements for 2019 and the annual Plan of Expert Consultations on all areas of the organization's activities.

Following the meeting, the Foreign Ministers adopted the Open appeal to the Foreign Ministers of NATO member states, with proposals to enhance cooperation and strengthen mutual trust. The document contains practical initiatives such as the exchange of assessments and information, creation of mechanisms to prevent dangerous military activities, mutual invitations to trainings, and development of direct dialogue between the leadership and bodies of the two organizations.

In addition, the Foreign Ministers made a joint statement on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus during the Second World War.

One of the outcomes of the meeting was the signing of the CSTO FMC Decision on presenting the candidature of Belarus for the CSTO Secretary General position to the CSTO Collective Security Council.

In general, the adopted documents are aimed at further strengthening the organization, which has once again demonstrated its openness and positive attitude towards extending cooperation with other countries and international structures.

The next meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers' Council will be held in Bishkek prior to the CSTO Collective Security Council session, scheduled for November 28, 2019.

Note to editors: The CSTO was established on October 7, 2002 in Chisinau. Besides Kazakhstan, the organization's membership includes Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The purpose of the CSTO is strengthening peace, international, regional security and stability, collective protection of independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the organization's member states, the priority in achieving which is given to political and diplomatic means.