February 7, 2009 - 13:51 AMT
Agreement on CSTO RRF formation propaganda maneuver
The decision on formation of a CSTO rapid reaction force is a propaganda maneuver, meant to solution of some Russian momentary tasks, an Armenian military expert said.

"At that, the tasks are psychological rather than political. As a matter of fact, this agreement is a delayed remedy for phantom pains caused by melting influence of a world power, an attempt to raise stakes in the Big Game. As result, we have nothing but one more CIS agreement ," Ruben Meghrabyan, expert at the Armenian center of political and international studies, told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The participant states do not possess essential transmission potential to respond in very short time frames to emergencies, i.e. the level of organization and material-technical support does not meet the proclaimed tasks, according to him.

"The agreement is non-binding and useless," he said.

"The signatories, scared by the toughening demands of the Russian Federation, joined the agreement in exchange of money they need more and more. This agreement is message to the West, a claim for respect," he said.

"Meanwhile, it's too hard to fancy an Uzbek or Tajik special forces as Armenia's cooperative neighbors fighting against Azerbaijan or Turkey or Armenian paratrooper rebuffing a fundamentalist sortie in Pamir. It's too expensive and not serious," Meghrabyan said.