Members of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have issued a statement expressing concern about the situation in Syria.
A meeting of CSTO foreign ministers, defense ministers, and security council secretaries in the Russian city of Sochi adopted a statement September 23 saying its members "advocate efforts to achieve peace, stability, prosperity, and progress in Syria."
Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists following the meeting that members are "unanimous" in supporting "peaceful political means" for resolving the Syrian conflict.
The group - which includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan - also agreed to draw up a joint plan to protect Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan.
In his remarks, Putin warned against the spread of terrorism from one country to another and expressed concern that militants from Syria or Afghanistan could infiltrate CSTO countries.
