Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 9, 2006 Friday 11:59 AM MSK
CSTO peacekeeping force may be used for managing conflicts in various
regions of world – secretary general
The peacekeeping contingent being tailored under the auspices of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) may be employed for
managing conflicts in various regions of the world under the UN
aegis, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told
Interfax-Military News Agency.
“Judging from the situation, conflict intensity and its possible
impact on the developments in the region, the Collective Security
Council of the organization may request a mandate of the UN Security
Council to mount a peacekeeping operation,” Bordyuzha said.
He noted that the secretariat of the organization has almost
completed the package of peacekeeping documentation. “Almost, because
not all the members of the organization have finished ratification
procedures. The final decision will of course be made by the
presidents of the CSTO member-states,” he said.
If peacekeeping operations are to be held outside the territories of
the Collective Security Treaty state parties, the UN Security
Council’s mandate will be obligatory, he said.
The UN will be also informed immediately if such an operation is
going to be held on the territories of the CSTO nations, he noted.
Bordyuzha also said that peacekeeping will be voluntary in the
Collective Security Treaty Organization. “Which means that even if
the Collective Security Council adopts the decision on a peacekeeping
operation in the region, it will not mean that all its six members
will have to contribute personnel for the mission. Each of the
member-states reserves the right of unlimited participation of its
peacekeeping contingents in operations under UN mandates or under the
aegis of other regional organizations, including the CIS and the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” he said.
The CSTO is developing a Collective Peacekeeping Force, its state
parties contributing specially trained units of own peacekeeping
contingents to it. “Such units are now available in almost all member
states,” Bordyuzha emphasized.
The summit of the organization will be held in Minsk on June 23 and
24. The CSTO includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia,
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.