CSTO open to dialogue with NATO – Russia’s foreign minister

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) is open to dialogue with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

Speaking at a press conference following the meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers, Lavrov stated that during earlier phases of Russia–West cooperation, dialogue mechanisms such as the NATO–Russia Council were active and included joint initiatives, including support for counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

“The CSTO has always been open to dialogue with NATO as well. In the times when there were no crises in relations between Russia and the West, when the Russia–NATO Council was functioning, when programs for delivering helicopters to Afghanistan for counterterrorism efforts were being implemented, <…> there was an entire Russia–NATO cooperation program, and even then NATO never agreed to sit at the same table with the CSTO to discuss security issues,” the minister said.

Lavrov noted that the only venues where the two organisations appeared in proximity were OSCE plenary sessions, as well as earlier periodic meetings organised by the UN Secretary-General every two years with regional security organisations.

“But there was no question of any equal dialogue, despite numerous official proposals that were approved by CSTO heads of state and sent in writing to NATO headquarters. There was this, you know, arrogant silence. Unfortunately, this reflects the continuing mindset of the West toward everything that is happening in this world,” the Russian foreign minister concluded.

By Jeyhun Aghazada