Uzbekistan’s position on Collective First Response Forces of CSTO remains immutable

On 3 September 2009, Russian media disseminated the statement made by CSTO’s Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha suggesting that Uzbekistan may join the Collective First Response Forces (CFRF) of CSTO. According to Secretary General, Uzbekistan has certain divergence with positions of other CSTO’s member-states with regard to the formation and application of CFRF which was pronounced repeatedly by the Uzbek side. Bordyuzha stated: “In this respect, Uzbekistan has not yet acceded to the document on the formation of CFRF.

Yet, nonetheless, the leadership of Uzbekistan has made it clear that it would watch how the CFRF work, how they will be shaped, and then it [Uzbekistan] would make a final decision. That is, they have not shut the door but left it half-open in order to take one or another decision – positive or negative – given the outcomes of activity in practice”. Russia’s foreign affairs ministry made a similar statement on 3 September.

Commenting these reports, an Uzbek government source noted unambiguously that “Uzbekistan will never and by no terms accede to CFRF; the republic’s position on the issue remains immutable. This approach has repeatedly been brought to Russian officials’ attention at various levels”.

At the same time, it was stressed that “Moscow should not have illusions by presenting the desirable as the actual, and, what is more, exert pressure on Tashkent in various forms. On this fundamental issue that directly affects interests of national and regional security, the Uzbek side will never go back on its own words.

Moreover, the Kremlin’s intention to deploy a new military base in southern Kyrgyzstan without any preliminary consultations with Uzbekistan – who is tied by allied relationships with Russia – and in defiance of Tashkent’s position, even more consolidated the confidence of the Uzbek side in its rectitude and the competence of its position”.

Akbar Tursunov
Gruzia Online
http://www.apsny.ge/2009/mil/1252194005.php