Nikolai Bordyuzhal, CSTO Secretary General, said at a conference rounding up the work of the organization this year that 2013 was dedicated to the potential of force. He reminded participants about the Grom-2013 drills in Kyrgyzstan, Kobalt-2013 in Rostov Region, Nerushimoye Bratstvo 2013 in Chebarkul, inspection of the Tajik-Afghan border, as well as the development of an interstate purpose program to secure Tajik borders.
Bordyuzha paid special attention to the situation in Afghanistan, especially in the light of NATO's withdrawal in a little over a year. The secretary general believes that the situation is degrading and getting worse as a result of events in Syria.
The official said that Tajikistan will be a priority for military aid. Infrastructure on the border will be supplemented by armored vehicles, he said.
Bordyuzha noted that the CSTO accepted any status of cooperation with Ukraine, regardless of its association agreement with the EU. The CSTO does not position itself as a global military bloc, comparable with NATO, he added.
