DUSHANBE, November 2, Asia-Plus  -- Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has expressed concern about change in configuration of military presence of NATO in Europe, a statement released by the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council yesterday said.   

A session of the Council of the CSTO Assembly was held in St. Petersburg, Russia on October 31 and Tajikistan was represented by Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) at the session.    

“Creation of positional area of anti-missile defense system of the United States in Poland and radar station in the Czech Republic is considered as an intent of the deployment of elements of the US anti-missile defense system in the immediate proximity to borders of member nations of CSTO that may have destructive impact on the CSTO potential of deterrence,” said the statement, “Such initiatives are launched whereas CSTO member nations strictly fulfill all their obligations on nuclear disarmament.”   

Heads of parliamentary delegations called on the parliaments of European countries to seek definite assessment of negative effects of change in the configuration of military presence of NATO in Europe, the statement said.   

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization was set up in November 2006.  The first session was held on March 30, 2007.  The CSTO PA is composed of three permanent commissions: for political affairs and international cooperation, for defense and security, for socio-economic and legal issues.  The members of the assembly are representatives of the legislative bodies of the CSTO member states.