CSTO Defense Ministers Council to meet in Dushanbe in spring MOSCOW, 17 February (BelTA) – The Defense Ministers Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are set to meet in Dushanbe in spring 2021, CSTO spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov told BelTA following the meeting of CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas and Chairman of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council, Defense Minister of Tajikistan Sherali Mirzo on 17 February. “The parties discussed the meeting of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council in Dushanbe this spring, and also military, military-technical and military-economic cooperation within the CSTO and the implementation of Tajikistan's priority activities in these areas for the period of Tajikistan's presidency in the organization in 2021. Stanislav Zas underlined the importance of increasing the level of readiness of the collective security forces to fulfill their tasks, including through joint operational and combat training. The matter concerned improvements to the Collective Rapid Response Forces management system, enhancing the level of training of the CSTO peacekeeping forces and equipping them with modern weapons, military and special equipment and means, taking into account their possible involvement in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN,” the spokesman said.