N. BORDYUZHA, "DECISION OF ARMENIA ON SENDING PEACEKEEPING FORCES TO AFGHANISTAN DOES NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE ALLIED RELATIONS OF THE COUNTRY WITH CSTO"

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 15, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Decision of Armenia on sending
peacekeeping forces to Afghanistan does not have any impact on the
allied relations of the country with Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO), CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha said
today during a space-bridge entitled "CSTO: Activity Results of the
Second Half of 2009 and Prospects for 2010" organized in the press
center of "Novosti".

"If Armenia makes a decision on the sending troops to Afghanistan,
it has reasons for that. That decision does not influence the
allied relations of Armenia with CSTO", the secretary general of the
institution pointed out. The staff of the peacekeepers of the Armenian
Armed Forces comprised of 40 people will implement their mission from
February of 2010 within German armed forces.

N. Bordyuzha does not consider right the establishment of such a
system inside the institution, where each of the members does not have
freedom. "The basic principle of CSTO is that it may cooperate with
all, including in military sphere, as well as may adopt any decision ,
which will not contradict or harm the allied commitments", N.

Bordyuzha said.

According to him, from the very beginning of the activities in
Afghanistan, CSTO declared the possibility of cooperation with
NATO forces implementing a mission there. The development of events
there showed once more that it is only through joint efforts that
they can give solution to such complicated problems, as ensuring of
stability and its consolidation in Afghanistan, the illegal drug
turnover, the establishment of firm system of armed forces, force
institutions and law-enforcement bodies, as well as the support to
the their consolidation.

CSTO secretary general pointed out also the urgent issues on cadre
preparation, solution of economic problems, on cooperation with
bordering countries, as well as the issue on transferring military and
non-military cargo through the territory of CSTO member-states. "We
can cooperate within the frameworks of these issues, it stems from
the benefits both of CSTO member-states and NATO", N. Bordyuzha said.