3 Mar 2022 10:22

Putin submits bill on ratification of protocol allowing CSTO forces' involvement in UN peacekeeping operations to State Duma

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a bill on ratification of a protocol amending the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Agreement on Peacekeeping Activity dated October 6, 2007, to the State Duma on Thursday.

In particular, the document allows involvement of CSTO peacekeeping forces in UN-led peacekeeping operations via "a coordinating state - a CSTO member."

The protocol introduces the notion of "a coordinating state," under the aegis of which collective peacekeeping forces of the CSTO are created for participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

According to the document, "a coordinating state" is a member state designated by the Collective Security Council to address organizational issues and comprehensive support to the participation of the collective peacekeeping forces in a UN peacekeeping operation.

Terms of participation of the collective peacekeeping forces in a UN peacekeeping operation are laid down in an agreement concluded between the coordinating state and the relevant UN agency. Certain aspects of the inclusion of peacekeeping contingents in the collective peacekeeping forces designated to participate in UN peacekeeping operations are regulated by bilateral and multilateral agreements between the coordinating state and other member states.

Each member state may assign peacekeeping contingents registered in the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) to UN peacekeeping operations and notify the Collective Security Council about its decision.