CSTO assesses situation in Caucasus region

The situation remains complicated in the South Caucasus, the West seeks to increase its influence there, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Andrey Serdyukov said

"The situation in the Caucasus region is no less complicated. The high level of disagreements, due primarily to the unsettled territorial issues and the West's desire to increase its influence in Transcaucasia, is of particular concern," Serdyukov said.

The situation in the Central Asian region remains tense as well, according to him.

"In the Central Asian region, there are high risks and challenges associated with international terrorism, extremism, and the illegal spread of weapons, narcotics, and psychotropic substances, which pose a major threat to stability in the member states of the organization," Serdyukov said.