CSTO Summit to address security issues

At their non-official summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on August 12, the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states will discuss the situation in their countries, focusing on security and stability issues. According to the Kazakh media, the summit will also address global and regional threats, as well as other key issues on the international agenda. Earlier, the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he would update his counterparts on Russia’s efforts to normalise the situation in Northern Africa and in the Middle East, according to Itar-tass news agency. "The situation in Northern Africa and in the Middle East influence directly the situation in the CSTO," he said. "I will positively inform the partners on the intermediate efforts we are undertaking." Medvedev is also planning to discuss the situation in Kyrgyzstan, discuss "major regional threats, and generally about the situation in the region," Itar- tass reported. While the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is expected to meet with President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the summit. The leaders will discuss the Karabakh in South Caucasus peace process, according to press reports.