YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian and visiting secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha–met Tuesday in Yerevan to discuss CSTO structure and prospects of increasing military cooperation between countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the CSTO.
The CSTO (Russia–Belarus–Armenia–Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) was formed as an exclusive alliance to defend member countries from post-Soviet era threats–including terrorism–drugs–and organized crime.
The alliance also focuses on preserving the territorial integrity of its member states and seeking closer cooperation with the UN–the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe–NATO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The presidential press office added that Bordyuzha gave President Kocharian details of his recent visit to the UN headquarters in New York and spoke about the meetings he had with UN officials. The two men also touched on some of the problems affecting the region.
On Tuesday–Secretary General Bordyuzha met with Armenia’s Defense Minister Serge Sarkissian. According to the defense minister’s press secretary–Sarkissian and Bordyuzha discussed the existing level of cooperation between CSTO member states and the prospects for developing closer ties. The two leaders also spoke about current regional developmen’s and security.