The issue of appointment of the new CSTO Secretary General has been postponed. The leaders of CSTO member stated have agreed to continue the discussions in Saint Petersburg on December 6.

At the same time, work will be undertaken to elaborate relevant norms regulating the issues related to the early termination of powers of the Secretary-General.

The post remains vacant after Armenia recalled its representative Yuri Khachaturov, who is charged with overthrowing the constitutional order on March 1, 2008 during the unrest that followed the presidential elections.

The leaders of CSTO member states – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan met in Astana today to discuss issues of international and regional security, cooperation between member stated within the framework of the organization and on the international arena.