CIS-SCO cooperation to help effectively combat terrorism — CIS deputy secretary general

MINSK, October 7. /TASS/. The Counterterrorism Forum of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Minsk is the logical endpoint of years of partnership-building between the two entities, CIS Deputy Secretary General Nurlan Seitimov said at the forum’s plenary session.

In the future, this cooperation should also include Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states, he noted.

"Today’s counterterrorism forum in Minsk marks the successful logical conclusion in the CIS-SCO partnership architecture, making this system of cooperation truly monolithic. The two major Eurasian international organizations, possessing vast experience in ensuring security, are pooling their capabilities to create a single space of stability," he said.

Seitimov emphasized that "the list of modern threats is constantly expanding." "We are seeing international terrorist groups actively exploiting the digital space and using artificial intelligence, cyberattacks, and cryptocurrencies to finance their criminal activities. Recognizing this reality compels us to expand the scope of our cooperation and move beyond traditional regional frameworks," he stated.

"The cohesiveness of the CIS and SCO formats is not the end point of our development, but rather a solid foundation for further expanding the scope of Eurasian stability. In the near future, we foresee cooperation within an even broader trilateral format involving the CIS, the SCO, and the CSTO," Seitimov said.