YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The unofficial Summit of the Heads of the CSTO member states commenced today in Yerevan. The agenda of the Summit includes actions taken and planned by the CSTO toward the assistance in stabilization of the situation in Kyrgyzstan, establishment of an efficient structure for rapid response in emergency situations and administrative issues related to the official meeting of the CSTO Council to be held in Moscow. Greeting the participants of the gathering, the President of Armenia noted that the format of unofficial meetings proved to be very efficient. “By not limiting ourselves with a strict agenda and conducting discussions of different issues, we, as a rule, achieve good results. The decision on the establishment of the Rapid Response Force was adopted only six months ago – today, the Force has become a reality, ready to jointly fulfill any task assigned to it. The Force has conducted its first military exercise and is getting ready for the next. I am confident, that today too we will exchange views on issues which are important for the member states, issues of enhancing the efficient use of the CSTO potential and issues related to the activities aimed at the preservation of peace, security and stability on the territories covered by the CSTO,” the President of Armenia said. On behalf of the participants of the Summit, the President of the CSTO Council, the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev expressed gratitude to the President of Armenia for hospitality and noted that it was anticipated that the Yerevan Summit would yield great results. “Traditionally, this format, although unofficial, proved to be efficient, and efficiency is the measure of our work,” said the President of the Russian Federation. At the conclusion of the Summit, at the meeting with the representative of mass media the Presidents of Armenia and Russia spoke about the results of the Summit. Present at the meeting was also the Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolai Bordjuzha. Following the meeting, the leaders of the CSTO member states left for the Harsnaqar resort on Sevan, where they will conduct bilateral meetings and continue discussions.

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