Russia has offered the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to consider priority measures on fostering biosecurity cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday, EDNews.net reports citing AKIpress.
Speaking at a meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers via a video link-up, Lavrov stressed that the coronavirus infection is a serious test for the entire system of international relations and a challenge for every state and inter-state structures, Tass state news agency reports.
"Today we have to carefully analyze what conclusions need to be drawn in relation to our organization’s activities. It is clear that there is a demand to tap the CSTO’s potential for responding to such threats in the interests of ensuring the health and well-being of citizens of our countries. Therefore, we offered today to consider priority measures for developing cooperation in biosecurity area," Lavrov said, opening the meeting.
The CSTO’s ministerial meeting is held in the format of a video conference for the first time ever, he noted. "Certainly, this format cannot replace live communication, but it certainly will not prevent us from working today as always in a friendly manner and effectively," Lavrov said.