Astana hosts CSTO Foreign Ministers Council meeting

A meeting of CSTO Foreign Ministers Council is being held in Astana, Tengrinews.kz reports. According to the Secretariat of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the meeting covers threats and challenges arising from Afghanistan "in relation to transfer of responsibility for security in the country to Afghanistan military forces". In particular, Foreign Ministers discuss enhancement of Tajikistan borders and arrangement of transit of international security-support powers. Besides, CSTO Foreign Ministers are expected to evaluate the situation in the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa (Syria unrest, Iranian nuclear program and the situation in Pakistan). The Ministers will discuss approaches to positioning of American PRO systems in Europe and will review the draft decree on consultations of CSTO member-states on foreign policy in the second half of 2012 and first half of 2013. The meeting will also cover signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the CSTO Secretariat and UN Operations Department on peace-keeping. Upon request of Kazakhstan Foreign Minister, the meeting in narrow format is held without media. By Renat Tashkinbayev