"In the near future, we will establish close contacts with NATO in order to jointly work out measures with regard to existing challenges and threats," he said.
In his words, NATO is taking an active part in operations in Afghanistan, while Tajikistan, as an OCST member, is Afghanistan's immediate neighbor.
"This is why it is quite logical that we want to cooperate with NATO on specific issues," noted Nikolai Bordyuzha.
Cooperation with NATO was discussed at the level of OCST foreign and defense ministers.
"It's up to the presidents to decide on what specific measures must be taken in this direction ", he said.
He also pointed to the problems that will arise in the course of NATO enlargement. "There are tendencies toward the deployment of some NATO formations in close proximity to the borders of some OCST member-countries. This issue is serious enough and we keep it in mind, said Bordyuzha.
The territory of the Baltic countries, which are joining NATO is becoming a kind of "a black hole" where "one can deploy whatever he likes ", he noted. This cannot not but cause concern in the OCST member-states, he said.
The OCST includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia.
