The participants discussed measures to counter challenges and threats to collective security, as well as changes in the 2021–2025 Programme of CSTO PA Activities for the Convergence and Harmonisation of National Legislation of CSTO Member States.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Yury Vorobyov and Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security Vladimir Bulavin took part in an off-site meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO PA), which took place in Almaty within the framework of the 2024 CSTO Chairmanship of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The meeting was attended by the heads of parliament (parliamentary chambers) of the CSTO member states: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
Council members met with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The parties stressed the importance of enhancing CSTO cohesion and unity to preserve the sovereignty and independence of the member states.
The meeting agenda included a report on the priorities of the Kazakhstani CSTO Chairmanship in 2024, delivered by the Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and on implementing the decisions of the November 2023 session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and measures to counter challenges and threats to collective security, delivered by the CSTO Secretary-General.
The lawmakers approved a CSTO PA statement in connection with the advancement of AI technologies. The document states, in part, that it is unacceptable to politicise the issue of AI technologies and their regulation. They called for proactive and non-discriminatory international cooperation on R&D in AI and its civilian applications. They also stated that cooperation was needed to build the infrastructure involved in AI advancement.
The participants in the meeting confirmed the CSTO PA’s effectiveness as an interparliamentary dialogue platform for discussing current regional and international issues and expressed support for continuing their joint consolidated efforts in the face of a sharp rise in international tensions.
The heads of the parliamentary delegations laid a wreath and flowers at the Eternal Flame in honour of the Soviet soldiers who fell on the battlefields of the Great Patriotic War.