MINSK, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday praised the role of the peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) while greeting Belarusian servicemen participating in the operation in Kazakhstan at a military airfield.
Lukashenko said that it was the first time the CSTO peacekeeping forces had participated in an operation to ensure the security and stability of the organization's member state.
The measures taken by the CSTO and the deployment of peacekeepers saved Kazakhstan from the most unfavorable situation and prevented a "color revolution," he said.
The joint efforts of the CSTO peacekeeping forces has also demonstrated the close ties of the CSTO member states, he added.
The CSTO peacekeeping forces were deployed to the Central Asian country to help normalize the situation following days of violent protests. ■