Dacic: CSTO important partner of OSCE

DUSHANBE - Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic took part in a session of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the capacity of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, he underlined that the OSCE has the privilege to take part in the CSTO session for the first time, adding that he is happy that this happened at the time of Serbia's OSCE chairmanship, bearing in mind that Serbia is very much interested in the CSTO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released in a statement.

"The CSTO is an important partner of the OSCE. The two organizations share a number of similar goals," Dacic said.

He underlined that the OSCE appreciates the considerable and valuable experience that the CSTO gained by working in Central Asia, particularly in the field of combating transnational security threats, so it will analyze the possibilities of establishing a closer cooperation.

"The two organizations could establish closer contacts with regards to the issues involving the long-term needs of the region's development, including the challenges relating to Afghanistan," he said.

DACIC ON OSCE EFFORTS IN CENTRAL ASIA

Ivica Dacic, OSCE chairperson-in-office and Serbia's foreign minister, said in Dushanbe Thursday that the OSCE was making great efforts in promoting security and stability in Central Asia.

OSCE missions are being carried out in five Central Asian states, involving more than 500 people, Dacic said at a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

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