The CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov spoke at the Grand National Forum of Information Security "INFOFORUM-2022" on February 3, 2022

February 3, 2022, Moscow

Dear Mr. Chairman!

Dear participants of the Forum!

I welcome the organizers, participants and guests of the twenty-fourth meeting of the “INFOFORUM” National Forum on Information Security! I would like to thank the organizers of the forum for the opportunity to address you. At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude to the delegations of the CSTO member States – the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan - who constantly take part in the work of the “Infoforum”, which is evidence of our great interest in working at the international and regional level in the sphere of information security, and in the sphere of countering challenges and threats in the CSTO area of responsibility.

Over the years, the National "Inforum" has proved the objective need for a wide communication and exchange of views of specialists and the public on the problems and main directions of policy in the most important area, which is information security.

Holding such an event and the importance of the problems discussed are due to the ever-growing influence of the information space and information technology on the political, economic, defense and other components of security of modern society and the state. This determines the relevance of the problems discussed at the meetings and sessions of the forum by competent professionals and the fact that the problems of information security are important not only for a single state, but have become an integral part of the international security system.

The modern world is undergoing a profound transformation. The desire for peace, development, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, the formation of a community of universal peace and prosperity is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, global challenges and threats, as well as factors of uncertainty and unpredictability, are growing in the world.

New regional and local conflicts remain unresolved and are emerging. According to expert analysts, the coming years will be a period of dynamic change in international relations, associated with the formation of a polycentric world order, the strengthening of the regional level of global governance and the strengthening of the positions of developing countries. Globalization and technological progress will contribute to the growing interdependence of states.

The complex nature of challenges and threats requires the development of collective approaches to combating them, as well as an awareness that one cannot ensure one's own security at the expense of the security of others. Under these conditions, the observance by all states of the universal principles of equal and indivisible security becomes imperative.

The mutual intertwining of threats to security is growing, the struggle in the information space is intensifying and the state of the environment continues to deteriorate. The preconditions for radical sentiments, including those based on inter-confessional and intra-religious contradictions, remain, which is fraught with domestic political excesses and increasing tensions in international relations.

In this context, the protection of peace and inclusive development remain the most pressing challenges. The need to build in the region a universal, comprehensive, inclusive, transparent architecture, indivisible and lasting security and sustainable growth based on the principles of the rule of international law, the non-use of force or the threat of force, respect for territorial integrity, state sovereignty and independence of countries, and open, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation is coming to the fore. In this regard, the role of regional organizations, one of which is the Collective Security Treaty Organization, is increasing.

The dynamics and forecast of the military and political situation in the world and regions located in the immediate vicinity of the CSTO area of responsibility are determined by several factors that have or may potentially have a negative impact on the system of collective security.

Despite the measures taken, the level of crime in certain areas remains high in the member States of the Organization. A large number of crimes are committed against property, in the use of water biological and forest resources, in the sphere of housing and utilities, as well as in the sphere of credit and finance. The number of crimes committed with the use of information and communication technologies is growing. Extremist manifestations have a destabilizing effect on the social and political situation.

Destructive forces outside the CSTO area of responsibility and within its member States are attempting to use objective social and economic difficulties to stimulate negative social processes, exacerbate inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts, and manipulate the information sphere. The intelligence and other activities of special services and organizations of foreign States remain active, including using national public associations of the Organization's member States and individuals under their control.

International terrorist and extremist organizations seek to intensify their propaganda and recruitment efforts, to create hidden cells on the territory of our Organization member States, and to involve the youth of our states in unlawful activities. Global Internet companies are widely used to spread false information and organize illegal public actions.

The main threats to state and public security in the CSTO area of responsibility remain the activities of criminal organizations and groups, including transnational ones, connected with illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances, weapons, ammunition, explosives, the organization of illegal migration and trafficking in human beings. The danger of these threats is multiplied when the above-mentioned criminal goals are achieved through information and telecommunications technologies and, first and foremost, through the services of the Internet.

In addition to its benefits, the development of digital technology also carries significant risks, as it opens up new opportunities for committing crimes and terrorist attacks. All of this can be significantly exacerbated if proper attention is not paid to the protection of digital sovereignty. That is why it is important, at the level of interstate cooperation within the CSTO, to gradually build up protection against existing and potential threats.

Multilateral cooperation in the field of information security is one of the priorities for ensuring the collective security of the CSTO member States. By cooperating in the development and promotion of a legal basis for cooperation, our states are helping to improve the international legal framework. They are developing practical mechanisms for a joint response to threats to information security. They are developing confidence-building measures in the field of information security and are also improving the technological foundations.

An important resource for strengthening CSTO cooperation in the field of information security is the involvement of observer states and dialogue partners in joint work, deepening contacts with interested countries and international organizations, primarily with the SCO, the CIS and the BRICS member States.

The CSTO states, based on the experience of implementing the 2017 Agreement among the Organization's member States on cooperation in the field of information security, will further strengthen cooperation. Emphasis will be placed on conducting a joint CSTO standing operation to counter information technology crimes "PROXY", measures to respond to computer incidents, as well as operations in the CSTO format to combat illegal migration "Illegal", drug trafficking "Channel" and the anti-terrorist complex of operational and preventive measures "Mercenary".

By decisions of the heads of CSTO member States, our Organization is called upon to build an interstate system of ensuring security across the entire spectrum of countering contemporary challenges and threats.

Both the level of developments in the field of information technology itself and the assessment of the practical results from their implementation are very important. The work of the National Forum will undoubtedly contribute to the achievement of this noble and urgent goal.

Please accept my wishes for fruitful work and great success.

Thank you for your attention!