CSTO completes peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan - CSTO secretary general

MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax) - The peacekeeping mission of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the antiterrorist operation of Kazakh law enforcement agencies are now over in Kazakhstan, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas told Interfax on Thursday.

"The withdrawal of CSTO collective peacekeeping forces has already begun today, on January 13 of this year, and will continue for ten days. The CSTO peacekeeping mission in the republic is now over. This is a joint opinion of the political leadership of CSTO member states and the military command of the CSTO collective peacekeeping forces and the Kazakh Armed Forces," Zas said.

"The antiterrorist operation conducted by Kazakh law enforcement agencies has also come to an end. The militants and terrorists have been defeated. The remaining militants are trying to escape justice, to go into hiding. Therefore, Kazakh law enforcement agencies are actively clearing areas and arresting suspected participants in the unrest and the coup conspiracy," Zas said. "This is an exclusive prerogative of the Kazakh Interior Ministry, the National Guard and security services, and this is the job they are doing."

"And CSTO peacekeepers are going home upon the successful completion of their mission. The first flights are planned to depart on January 13," Zas said.