CSTO leaders sign rapid-reaction force deal without Belarus

17:1014/06/2009

MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti) – The leaders of the post-Soviet CSTO
security bloc have signed an agreement on creating a joint
rapid-reaction force without a signature from Belarus, Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday.

Belarus pulled out of the summit of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in protest against Russia’s ban on
imports of its dairy products.

"The document that has been signed includes an agreement on collective
forces and a decision by the Collective Security Council on the
rapid-reaction force structure," Medvedev said.

Russia already has joint military contingents with Belarus and Armenia
through the CSTO.

The new force will comprise large military units from five countries –
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Analysts say the creation of a powerful military contingent in Central
Asia reflects Moscow’s drive to make the CSTO a pro-Russian military
bloc, rivaling NATO forces in Europe.

Russia’s security strategy until 2020, recently approved by President
Dmitry Medvedev, envisions the CSTO as "a key mechanism to counter
regional military challenges and threats."

The CSTO rotating presidency, which was expected to be assumed by
Belarus, has been passed over to Russia for the time being, Medvedev
said.

"In the absence of our Belarusian partners, we have made a decision to
pass temporary presidency to Russia as the country hosting the summit,"
Medvedev said.

The Russian president said that Minsk could join the CSTO summit’s
decisions later, adding that such a move would be welcomed.

Belarus earlier said no summit decisions would be valid without its
involvement.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a note handed to the Collective
Security Treaty Organization’s secretariat that the country’s
non-participation "means the lack of approval from the Republic of
Belarus of decisions being considered" at the summit, along with the
foreign and defense ministers’ meetings, and "consequently a lack of
consensus for the taking of these decisions."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress