June 17, 2004 - 18:09 AMT
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN CSTO AND EURASEC SUMMITS IN ASTANA
June 17 the Armenian delegation headed by President Robert Kocharian left to the Kazakh capital of Astana to participate in the recurrent session of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). As reported by the Press service of the head of the Armenian state, sittings of the Councils of Foreign and Defense Ministers, as well as the Committee of Security Secretaries of the CSTO member countries will precede it. Thereupon, the Armenian delegation specifically includes Secretary of the Security Council under the Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian. An exchange of views on the military and political situation in the organization responsibility zone, as well as its role and significance in the forming of a new system of international security is expected in the narrow circle of the heads of the CSTO countries. The signing of a range of documents, referring specifically to the priority directions of CSTO activities in 2004-2005, as well as the forming of the peacekeeping mechanism of the organization is planned. It should be reminded that the organization includes six countries - Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. In the course of the visit to Astana the Armenian leader will also take part in the sitting of the Interstate Council of the organization of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), where Armenia has an observer status.