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CSTO MEETING IN YEREVAN: MILITARY-TECHNICAL COOPERATION MAINLY ON AGENDA
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/48950/armenia_russia_collective_security_treaty_organiza tion_yerevan_bordyuzha
ANALYSIS | 04.10.13 | 11:16
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on
Military-Economic Cooperation of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) ended in Yerevan on Thursday. The meeting mainly
focused on issues of military-technical cooperation. In particular,
CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha announced the opening of
the Kamaz-Armenia service center in Armenia that will provide the
Ministry of Defense and law-enforcement agencies of the country with
the necessary equipment as well as will deal with repairs of arms
and military equipment.
Apparently, the military-political bloc is not yet capable of providing
more than just military-technical cooperation. Differences in the
interests of its six members are so many that during the 10 years of
the existence of the CSTO it has failed to agree on participation in
a single military-political operation.
An CSTO summit took place in Sochi, Russia, late last month during
which, at the initiative of the Russian side, the bloc made a decision
on the provision of assistance in protecting the borders of Tajikistan
after the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan. However, it was
ultimately decided not to send troops of the CSTO there, but rather
provide military-technical assistance. Apparently, not all of the
member countries were willing to send troops.
In particular, Armenia is unlikely to send its soldiers to the
volatile Tajik-Afghan border. Moreover, at the summit in Sochi
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made quite a strong statement,
accusing some CSTO allies of often making statements against the
interests of other allies on the international arena. In particular,
some CSTO members have signed resolutions that are contrary to the
position of Armenia in the Karabakh issue.
Senior member of Sargsyan's ruling Republican Party Edward Sharmazanov
clarified that statement. He said that at the session of the CSTO
Council in Sochi, Sargsyan sent some clear messages. "Message 1:
Armenia approaches the further development of the CSTO exclusively
from the position of sovereignty and ensuring security. Message 2:
the main priority of Armenia is to ensure the security of Karabakh
and its international recognition. Message 3: a one-sided position
on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict manifested by certain CSTO
member states is unacceptable for us," said Sharmazanov.
Armenia's participation in the CSTO is mainly explained by security
considerations, however, judging from statements, Armenia cannot
rely on the CSTO to help in the event of an Azeri aggression against
Karabakh. Despite the fact that it was decided to abolish the principle
of consensus in decision-making at the CSTO, even individual CSTO
countries are unlikely to want to interfere in the war in Karabakh.
President Sargsyan spoke about Armenia's position on possible
aggression from Azerbaijan also at the plenary session of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on
October 2. He stated that the Republic of Armenia and its armed forces
are the guarantors of the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"And here I declare that if Azerbaijan starts a military action
against Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia will defend Nagorno-Karabakh to
the full extent of its capabilities," the president stressed.
"In case of [Azerbaijan's] aggression several months later the
Azerbaijanis will complain not about the occupation of 20 percent
but 25-30 percent of their territories," said Sargsyan, answering a
question from an Azerbaijani delegate.
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/48950/armenia_russia_collective_security_treaty_organiza tion_yerevan_bordyuzha
ANALYSIS | 04.10.13 | 11:16
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on
Military-Economic Cooperation of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) ended in Yerevan on Thursday. The meeting mainly
focused on issues of military-technical cooperation. In particular,
CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha announced the opening of
the Kamaz-Armenia service center in Armenia that will provide the
Ministry of Defense and law-enforcement agencies of the country with
the necessary equipment as well as will deal with repairs of arms
and military equipment.
Apparently, the military-political bloc is not yet capable of providing
more than just military-technical cooperation. Differences in the
interests of its six members are so many that during the 10 years of
the existence of the CSTO it has failed to agree on participation in
a single military-political operation.
An CSTO summit took place in Sochi, Russia, late last month during
which, at the initiative of the Russian side, the bloc made a decision
on the provision of assistance in protecting the borders of Tajikistan
after the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan. However, it was
ultimately decided not to send troops of the CSTO there, but rather
provide military-technical assistance. Apparently, not all of the
member countries were willing to send troops.
In particular, Armenia is unlikely to send its soldiers to the
volatile Tajik-Afghan border. Moreover, at the summit in Sochi
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made quite a strong statement,
accusing some CSTO allies of often making statements against the
interests of other allies on the international arena. In particular,
some CSTO members have signed resolutions that are contrary to the
position of Armenia in the Karabakh issue.
Senior member of Sargsyan's ruling Republican Party Edward Sharmazanov
clarified that statement. He said that at the session of the CSTO
Council in Sochi, Sargsyan sent some clear messages. "Message 1:
Armenia approaches the further development of the CSTO exclusively
from the position of sovereignty and ensuring security. Message 2:
the main priority of Armenia is to ensure the security of Karabakh
and its international recognition. Message 3: a one-sided position
on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict manifested by certain CSTO
member states is unacceptable for us," said Sharmazanov.
Armenia's participation in the CSTO is mainly explained by security
considerations, however, judging from statements, Armenia cannot
rely on the CSTO to help in the event of an Azeri aggression against
Karabakh. Despite the fact that it was decided to abolish the principle
of consensus in decision-making at the CSTO, even individual CSTO
countries are unlikely to want to interfere in the war in Karabakh.
President Sargsyan spoke about Armenia's position on possible
aggression from Azerbaijan also at the plenary session of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on
October 2. He stated that the Republic of Armenia and its armed forces
are the guarantors of the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"And here I declare that if Azerbaijan starts a military action
against Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia will defend Nagorno-Karabakh to
the full extent of its capabilities," the president stressed.
"In case of [Azerbaijan's] aggression several months later the
Azerbaijanis will complain not about the occupation of 20 percent
but 25-30 percent of their territories," said Sargsyan, answering a
question from an Azerbaijani delegate.