Lavrov to attend CSTO ministerial meeting in Bishkek on Monday
MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday will attend a session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Bishkek as part of preparations for an informal summit of CSTO countries.
"Participants in the meeting will exchange opinions on a broad range of problems, including aspects of the current operations of CSTO and the current international situation. Priority attention will be paid to the improvement of foreign policy coordination in the framework of the organization," the Foreign Ministry information and press department reports.
The foreign ministers are expected to sign a Council statement on pressing international issues and approve an updated list of subjects of joint statements for 2013.
"The same day will see a joint session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers and the Committee of Security Council Secretaries of CSTO. Participants will exchange opinions on the current state and structure of the collective security system in the light of the existing challenges and threats," the ministry said.
The ministers will also discuss questions of strengthening the peacekeeping potential and advancing the organization's collective security system. Several documents are expected to be approved defining concrete aspects of organizing and conducting operations of CSTO peacekeeping forces.
"The plan of consultations of representatives of CSTO member-states on foreign policy, security and defense for the second half of 2013 - the first half of 2014 is expected to be approved. We regard the Bishkek meeting as an important event aimed at the further development of allied interaction and increasing the effectiveness of the organization," the Foreign Ministry says.
