In an address on Tuesday in Moscow to member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus has been and will continue to be committed to the treaty organization.

According to Lukashenko, the organization's practical direction in terms of development will benefit the CSTO nations. He also stated that member states share common economic ground that is growing in size. Increased interactions within the organization also can curb organizations that would exploit loopholes.

“The existing mechanisms of interaction between special services and other services can be used for that," Lukashenko said. "The services are capable of putting a stop to organized criminal groups, which are now trying to find loopholes and exploit the new economic conditions for their criminal gains.”

In the meeting they selected Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to take over the CSTO presidency.
CSTO member nations include Armenia, Tajikistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.