Eurasian Economic Cooperation to set up the new organization

The summit of the Eurasian Economic Cooperation (EEC), which is currently taking place in Moscow, gave more food for thought to scientists of politics and experts. The subject of today’s discussion was basically political. President of the republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, joined the presidents of EEC country-members to discuss the issues of the anti-terrorist struggle and collective security.

The Collective Security Treaty is the fundamental document in this field. This document was signed on May 15, 1992 in Tashkent (the capital of Uzbekistan) by the heads of six countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States: Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Azerbaijan joined the Treaty afterwards in 1993 together with Belarus and Georgia.

The Treaty came into effect on April 20, 1994 for the period of five years with subsequent prolongation. On April 2 1999, the protocol on the prolongation of the Treaty was singed by six countries. Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan pulled out from it, having considered it inefficient.

Maybe the leaders of those countries were right to a certain extent, when they said that the Treaty was not brining any good. But most likely, it was about some political details, which have already been forgotten.

The presidents of the six countries, which still participate in the Collective Security Treaty, made a decision that can show considerable influence on the system of collective security on the territory of the former Soviet Union. It was decided to transform the functioning mechanisms and structures of cooperation of the states into the international regional Organization of the Collective Security Treaty. President Putin said that this organization would unite the countries that cooperate with each other to prevent the threats of the present times.

It seems that Russia is interested in the establishment of the new organization first and foremost. Moscow is really in need of the efficient collective security instrument, especially against the background of the fact that American army bases have been deployed on the territory of several republics of the former USSR. However, Putin repeatedly stressed that he did not see any threat in that, but a lot of politicians and mass media made a tragedy out of it, although no one said, what Russia could oppose to America’s military presence.

Anyway, one may not say that the new organization is being set up as an opposition to Americans. For the time being, there is no necessity in that, either political or economic. Let’s hope that it will not appear in the future, taking into consideration the fact that Moscow repeatedly emphasised that it was Washington’s ally in the anti-terrorist struggle. The documents that will regulate the activity of the new organization will be prepared by November 1, 2002.

The Organization of the Collective Security Treaty will of course have to prove its efficiency and viability, this will depend on the fact, if participating countries are really interested in the creation of the efficient collective security mechanism.

Vasily Bubnov PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Dmitry Sudakov