Panorama.am
16:00 10/03/2009

SERGEY LAVROV: AZERBAIJANI ANXIETY OF CSTO COLLECTIVE URGENT RESPONSE
FORCES IN VAIN

In his interview to Azerbaijani publication, the Foreign Minister of
Russia Sergey Lavrov said that the Azerbaijani parliament’s anxiety
regarding the creation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) armed forces is in vain. `As far as I understand, this
question is linked to the decision to establish the CSTO collective
urgent response forces, which was passed at an irregular CSTO
session. I want to say straight off that any apprehension in this
regard is groundless,’ he said.

`For instance, contrary to NATO urgent response forces, the CSTO
forces will only be active in member-countries. The decision to use
these forces was adopted unilaterally by their presidents,’ explained
the Foreign Minister.

Key functions of the CSTO forces will be to repulse military
aggression, hold special operations to combat international terrorism
and forcible extremism, transnational organized crime, narcotics
trafficking and handle natural calamities. To fulfill these tasks, the
forces will include mobile military units, special interior ministry
divisions and security forces, said Mr. Lavrov.

Source: Panorama.am