Kazakhstan often proposes reasonable initiatives aimed at improving collective security system - CSTO Sec Gen Nikolai Bordyuzha

The head of the organization is holding regular consultations with representatives of the CSTO member states to various international structures. The other day, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha visited Brussels. In an exclusive interview to Kazinform he shared his view on the outcome of this visit, assessments of our country's work within the CSTO and the position of the CSTO regarding the Libyan crisis.

Please tell us about the results of the Brussels meeting with the ambassadors of the CSTO member states to NATO. What issues were discussed?

My visit to Brussels is connected with the need to meet with authorized representatives of the CSTO member states to NATO. This is a traditional working visit, which is conducted annually. As part of these trips we hold consultations with representatives of our countries regarding the situation in general, interaction with the NATO, system of collective security and directions of developing security measures to maintain stability in our countries. I am very interested in these trips because I get an extra impetus; I listen to the views of high-level experts who know the work of both NATO and the CSTO.

On the other hand, I bring to these meetings the information regarding the SCTO activities, the results we have achieved, the challenges that we face, and the projects we are implementing today. In this regard, the meeting was very useful and interesting.

In my opinion, there was an interesting speech from a representative of Kazakhstan - Ambassador Yerik Utembayev. I know him for a long time; he is a very creative person. Back when he worked in the Security Council of Kazakhstan, we had kept close contact with each other. He knows the subject, knows the CSTO, as well as the nuances of the Organization. Therefore, his recommendations are noteworthy and we will analyze and try to implement them.

Since you're talking about the representatives of Kazakhstan, as a whole how can you evaluate the activity of our country in the framework of the CSTO?

I consider Kazakhstan as one of the most active partners of the CSTO. Kazakhstan often proposes reasonable initiatives aimed at improving the system of collective security. Your country very diligently takes its responsibilities on documents review and approval. It is always a pleasure to work with representatives of Kazakhstan, as they are focused primarily on real cooperation, not a declaration of cooperation. So I'm extremely satisfied with our cooperation with Kazakhstan within the framework of the CSTO.

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev is one of the most creative leaders in the post-soviet space. He is an author of many initiatives on improvement of the organization.

Recently, our country held early presidential elections, in which a landslide victory was gained by Nursultan Nazarbayev. How do you assess the outcome of these elections?

Representatives of our Organization were not involved in monitoring these elections. But as far as I know, there was the perfect organization, the elections were transparent, and the democratic standards were observed. I was surprised by the criticism from some western partners, especially the OSCE/ODIHR, regarding alleged problems associated with the elections. I think it is absolutely politically biased and nothing more.

The whole world today is watching events in Libya. Many states and organizations have expressed their position on the Libyan crisis. How can you assess the situation in Libya? What should be done to normalize it?

In Brussels we discussed the problem of Libya with EU Deputy High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Helga Schmidt, and met with the ambassadors of the neutral countries accredited to NATO. At all meetings the number one issue was the discussion of the situation in Libya. We believe that the situation there is very complicated, and the efforts made by European countries, especially NATO, did not give the desired results, but only made ​​matters worse.

Today we must do everything possible to avoid a ground operation, as it would directly intervene in the internal affairs of another state, not secured by any decision of the UN Security Council. It will further exacerbate an already serious situation.

In my opinion, today it is needed to focus on the ceasefire and begin the negotiation process followed by gradual steps towards democratization and the Libyan society.

Last year, the CSTO made ​​important changes to the statutes on the issues of crisis response. Taking into account the situation in North Africa and the Middle East, will the CSTO take any measures?

Yes, indeed, last year we adopted some very interesting documents, including those regulating our crisis response activities. We have a big potential needed to respond to any challenges, including military or terrorist ones. But we are positioning ourselves as a regional organization, which operates in the former Soviet space. We do not claim a global role, as NATO does. We're not stating that we can participate in resolving conflicts on the African continent or elsewhere.

I think our main goal is to create a system of collective security in the post-soviet space, on the territory of those states that are included in the Organization.

Thank you very much for the interview!