Polit.Uz

At an international conference dedicated to the 20^th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha has made a tactless statement concerning prospects of the resumption of Uzbekistan’s membership in this organization.

“In my mind, as soon as Uzbekistan gets hit with hard times the situation will change. In think this cannot go on for longer…” RBC reports citing him.

“Uzbekistan can resume its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization after worsening of the situation in Central Asia in the context of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan,” he said. Besides, he scares the countries of the region as if “there are some detachments ready to cross the afghan border.”

Apparently, Mr. Bordyuzha rubs his hands with pleasure that the situation in Central Asia will worsen after the announced withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan and events will develop according to a scenario of those whose interests he represents and “the region will burn in fire” as it once was “prophesied” by an American general. But he was referring to the turbulent 90-s of the 20^th century.

It would be shortsighted to assume that there is no such a potential threat. But this is another case. There are attempts to use this potential threat to promote interests here and keep all countries of the region in the “the near abroad collar.”

Do the CSTO officials think that the only country may have its interests here in the region?

Civilized relations are out of question while politicians like Mr. Bordyuzha who are at the head of such regional structures like CSTO have not yet learned to treat their partners on an equal footing. All integration efforts will make no progress and run against a quiet sabotage of all decisions by the partners.

Fakhriddin Nizamov,

expert