Russia's Putin asks parliament to introduce term 'coordinating state' in CSTO charter

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday suggested introducing a new term of "coordinating state" to the agreement on peacekeeping activities of the Collective Security Organization (CSTO).

Putin asked the State Duma, Russia's lower chamber of parliament, to ratify a protocol making necessary amendments to the agreement.

"The protocol introduces a term of ‘coordinating state’ and provides for establishment under its auspice of collective peacekeeping forces (CPF) of the Collective Security Organization to take part in the UN operation for maintaining peace," an accompanying note said.

The conditions for collective peacekeeping forces' participation in the UN operation are stipulated in an agreement between a coordinating state and a relevant UN body, it said.

The protocol was signed in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe on Sept. 16, 2021.

Formed in 1992, the CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia, consisting of Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.