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MOSCOW SUMMITS: ARMENIA DEEPENS INTEGRATION WITH POST-SOVIET ALLIES
NEWS | 24.12.14 | 10:14
http://armenianow.com/news/59584/armenia_eeu_csto_moscow_summit_president_sargsyan
Photo: www.president.am
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
On December 23, Moscow hosted a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian
Economic Council and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
that Armenia is a full member of. At these summits contradictions
between some of the members of these two blocs emerged particularly
clearly, however, the decisions that were made can be described as
those primarily meeting Russia's geopolitical interests.
Though, the presidents of both Belarus and Kazakhstan called for
finding the line between national and bloc interests.
At the meeting of the CSTO Council it was decided to establish
single aviation troops. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan voted for
this decision. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, apparently,
had been against it. He urged other partners not to create new CSTO
military elements and move more toward diplomacy and cooperation with
other blocs.
However, Russia insisted on creating unified air forces, and they
were created. Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that
the CSTO countries are already connected to the control center of
defense of Russia, which keeps track of everything in the world and
will help coordinate the defense action in all CSTO member countries.
In Armenia, it was seen as an attempt to deprive the national army
of the right to sovereign decisions, which is especially important in
an open conflict with Azerbaijan. In particular, there is information
that in implementing response or preventive actions the Armenian army
has so far often used not Russian weapons and Russian intelligence.
When connected to a single point of control it may become impossible
to do so.
At the meeting President Sargsyan thanked the presidents of the
CSTO and EEU member states for cooperation and reminded about their
commitments on ensuring collective security. He noted that a number
of incidents were registered this year at the border of Armenia and
Azerbaijan and the Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. At the same
time, it is not clear whether he thanked the CSTO for non-interference
or urged the bloc to adequately respond to such incidents in future.
Still, the main decisions of the CSTO concerned the Afghan-Tajik
border. President Putin even called on the CSTO to be ready for a
preemptive strike against the Islamic State in Central Asia. After the
withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan the Central Asian members
of the CSTO found themselves under threat of Islamist terror. It is
not clear yet whether Armenia will participate in pre-emptive strikes
against Islamists if such strikes are delivered.
At the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council a number of
decisions to intensify trade and investment cooperation were made.
However, Belarus leader Lukashenko tried to point at the "non-partner
actions" of Russia, which blocks Belarus goods and does not allow free
transit through the territory of the common customs area. However,
in the end, he signed all the documents prepared by Moscow.
President Putin also said that the agreement on the accession of
Kyrgyzstan to the EEU has been signed and also confirmed Armenia's
membership in the trade bloc from next year.
From: A. Papazian
NEWS | 24.12.14 | 10:14
http://armenianow.com/news/59584/armenia_eeu_csto_moscow_summit_president_sargsyan
Photo: www.president.am
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
On December 23, Moscow hosted a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian
Economic Council and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
that Armenia is a full member of. At these summits contradictions
between some of the members of these two blocs emerged particularly
clearly, however, the decisions that were made can be described as
those primarily meeting Russia's geopolitical interests.
Though, the presidents of both Belarus and Kazakhstan called for
finding the line between national and bloc interests.
At the meeting of the CSTO Council it was decided to establish
single aviation troops. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan voted for
this decision. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, apparently,
had been against it. He urged other partners not to create new CSTO
military elements and move more toward diplomacy and cooperation with
other blocs.
However, Russia insisted on creating unified air forces, and they
were created. Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that
the CSTO countries are already connected to the control center of
defense of Russia, which keeps track of everything in the world and
will help coordinate the defense action in all CSTO member countries.
In Armenia, it was seen as an attempt to deprive the national army
of the right to sovereign decisions, which is especially important in
an open conflict with Azerbaijan. In particular, there is information
that in implementing response or preventive actions the Armenian army
has so far often used not Russian weapons and Russian intelligence.
When connected to a single point of control it may become impossible
to do so.
At the meeting President Sargsyan thanked the presidents of the
CSTO and EEU member states for cooperation and reminded about their
commitments on ensuring collective security. He noted that a number
of incidents were registered this year at the border of Armenia and
Azerbaijan and the Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. At the same
time, it is not clear whether he thanked the CSTO for non-interference
or urged the bloc to adequately respond to such incidents in future.
Still, the main decisions of the CSTO concerned the Afghan-Tajik
border. President Putin even called on the CSTO to be ready for a
preemptive strike against the Islamic State in Central Asia. After the
withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan the Central Asian members
of the CSTO found themselves under threat of Islamist terror. It is
not clear yet whether Armenia will participate in pre-emptive strikes
against Islamists if such strikes are delivered.
At the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council a number of
decisions to intensify trade and investment cooperation were made.
However, Belarus leader Lukashenko tried to point at the "non-partner
actions" of Russia, which blocks Belarus goods and does not allow free
transit through the territory of the common customs area. However,
in the end, he signed all the documents prepared by Moscow.
President Putin also said that the agreement on the accession of
Kyrgyzstan to the EEU has been signed and also confirmed Armenia's
membership in the trade bloc from next year.
From: A. Papazian