Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan. 3 / Trend L. Podolyak /
Kazakhstan has begun presiding over the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) for this year. The handover from Belarus came after its term of chairmanship ended at the end of last year.
The Kazakh Foreign Ministry press office said the priorities of the chairmanship include the protection of information of the CSTO member states, development of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force, collective defence of airspace over the Central Asian region, the formation of the CSTO anti-drug strategy, the development of opportunities in 'Astana the Rock City' and the range of training relating to the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the interests of the whole Organisation.
CSTO comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.