SITTING OF COMMISSION ON ISSUES OF DEFENCE AND SECURITY OF CSTO INTERPARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY HELD IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Se p 24, 2008
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The sitting of the Commission
on Issues of Defence and Security of Interparliamentary Assembly of
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) took place at the RA
National Assembly on September 24. The military-political situation
in the Caucasian region was discussed at the sitting.
Vladimir Vasilyev, the Chairman of Committee on Issues of Security of
RF State Duma, said in his interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent that
attitude to the aggression of the Georgian leadership against South
Ossetia was expressed in statements of leaders and Foreign Ministers
of CSTO member-countries. The statements emphasized that increase
of military potential in the Caucasian region and attempts to solve
problems by force are vain and dangerous. It was also mentioned that
CSTO member-countries are loyal to the UN Regulations, within the
framework of which they will consistently solve all problems.
According to V. Vasilyev, the basis for settlement of the
Georgian-Ossetian conflict and establishment of peace in the region is
the program proposed by French President N. Sarkozy. At the same time
he mentioned that "irresponsible attitude of the Georgian leadership
to the issue of problem settlement continues to cause concern today,"
which is also felt in Armenia bordering upon Georgia. According to the
Russian deputy, that concern is noticeable not only among politicians,
but also among common citizens, of which he made sure after talking
with people.
According to V. Vasilyev, today further development of cooperation
within the framework of CSTO in many respects depends on Armenia,
which assumed CSTO chairmanship from September 5. He expressed the
hope that the period of non-correspondence of opinions is over and
CSTO member-countries are moving towards maximum mutual consent. "The
South Caucasian events are a good occasion to understand that there
cannot be closer and more reliable allies than neighbors," V. Vasilyev
gave assurance.
The State Duma deputy emphasized the necessity to calculate profit
from cooperation and its financing. He said that Russia, which is
the main supplier of arms within the framework of CSTO, today has
increased financing on creation and production of modern equipment. He
meant super-precise armament enabling to carrry out modern short-term
fights. According to him, after being created in Russia that armament
will appear in CSTO arsenal, as well.
V. Vasilyev said that issues regarding domestic and foreign policy
of CSTO member-countries, strengthening of security, training of
specialists for special services of law enforcement bodies, fighting
terrorism, organized crime, illegal migration were discussed at the
sitting. A long and detailed discussion took place on the issue of
prevention of crimes committed on the ground of disagreement between
nations. The experience of work done in Tajikistan was discussed
when possibilities of fighting illegal circulation of drugs were
studied on the spot. According to V. Vasilyev, that study showed how
much effective can be work especially in the direction of prevention
of flow of drugs from Tajikistan. "Obviously, less efforts will be
required for blocking the main way than it will be needed in the
future for control on borders of individual countries, he said.