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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia received today candidate for the post of Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Stanislav Zas. The meeting was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Armenia Igor Nazaruk, the PM's press service said.

Greeting the guests, the prime minister highlighted the fact that the candidature of the CSTO chief has been agreed upon by CSTO-member countries. “I am pleased that we came to an agreement, and on January 1, 2020 you will assume the post of CSTO secretary general on the principle of rotation. The CSTO is one of the most important elements of Republic of Armenia’s security system and Armenia is interested in working effectively with the organization. The activities of the CSTO should contribute to maintaining balance and peace in our region,” Pashinyan said.

He added that the CSTO-member states should act in accordance with the letter and spirit of the CSTO Charter. He stressed that Armenia is committed to these principles. The PM expressed the hope that the activities of Stanislav Zas will promote cooperation between the CSTO-member states in the field of security and increase the efficiency of collective security-targeted efforts.

Zas thanked Pashinyan for receiving him and supporting his candidacy for the post of CSTO secretary general. He assured that during his tenure he would make every effort to increase the effectiveness of CSTO activities and develop cooperation between member States.

The officials discussed issues of cooperation in the framework of the CSTO, with a reference made to security challenges, military-technical cooperation, preservation of the military balance in the region, etc.

Pashinyan noted that Armenia will carry on with the joint efforts in an atmosphere of mutual understanding to form an effective operational agenda and develop mutually beneficial cooperation.

Stanislav Zas once again stressed that by assuming the post of CSTO secretary general on January 1, 2020 he will do everything to achieve these goals and strengthen cooperation between member states in the field of security. Taking the opportunity, he congratulated the Armenian leader on the Republic Day, wishing peace, well-being and prosperity to the people of Armenia.