Around Russia

The parade of good intentions

December 8, 2009 Grigory Durnovo

So, the Russia-NATO Council held the first official meeting at the level of foreign ministers since the suspension of work after last year’s conflict in South Ossetia. The optimistic general secretary of NATO, Anders FOR FAG Rasmussen (he talked about the need for partnerships with Russia from the first days after taking office and considers the establishment of these relations one of his main priorities) at a meeting of the Council on December 4, abut the threats common to NATO and Russia. And the first agreement concluded in the framework of the council, about which Rasmussen announced at a press conference, concerned precisely the preparation of a document in which general actual threats would be listed. The Secretary General expressed confidence that members of the Council will not bring each other to this list. A joint assessment of threats is important, if only in order to set aside the rhetoric, according to which NATO is still an enemy and threatens the security of Russia. In any case, the headquarters of the North Atlantic Alliance is seriously counting on this. The list of threats and security tasks should include Afghanistan, terrorism, piracy, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The document is expected by the end of next year.

The second agreement concerns the joint work plan for 2010, including military cooperation, including, of course, in Afghanistan, and cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Rasmussen readily cited the terrorist threat of the Nevsky Express accident as an example. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned at a press conference on the resumption of Russia's participation in NATO operations to search and rescue at sea and continued participation in the fight against piracy. Touching on Afghanistan, he said about the continuation of assistance in the transit of transport and the training of Afghan personnel in the law enforcement sphere, as well as the joint activity of counteracting drug trafficking (he did not fail to note that it would be impossible to make the production of Afghan heroin without proceeding, including precursors). Lavrov also stated that measures were outlined to increase operational compatibility, on missile defense, and air traffic control. Shortly before the opening of a two-day meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries on December 3-4, to which a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council was timed, the constant representative of Russia under the Alliance Dmitry Rogozin said that the signing of an agreement that allows Russian specialists to serve Soviet military work in the countries of the Alliance and Afghanistan. On the sidelines, NATO representatives welcomed plans for the conclusion of this agreement and the like. Lavrov also spoke about the possibility of modernizing helicopters.

The third agreement indicates how to make the work of the Council itself more effective. “I am not one of those who mention bureaucratic improvements as an important news,” said Rasmussen, “but I’m sure that the Russian Council is a non-considerable part of the Euro-Atlantic Security Architecture and the improvement of the quality of its work is relevant.” Meanwhile, two days before the meeting of ministers, a scandal nearly erupted when Rogozin suddenly accused the Canada delegation “and those who supported it played up”, of blocking all three agreements mentioned above. Allegedly, part of the proposals fundamental for Russia (including the participation of Russia in internal discussions of the Afghan problem) was “launched under the knife”. However, the same Rogozin said that everything was settled. NATO, for his part, assured that there were no incidents (although it admitted that disagreements exist, but this is no longer a secret for anyone). “Who came up with this Canada? -on the sidelines of the Brussels headquarters of NATO perplexed the representative of the Alliance on the eve of the meeting of the Council. - Who needs a scandal? Everyone is interested in work, everyone works, everything is in order. ” As a result, as is already known, a separate working group “in Afghanistan” with Russia's participation was nevertheless created. Meanwhile, Lavrov emphasized that Russia will not take part in military planning in Afghanistan, and in the development of the settlement strategy, the country neighboring with Afghanistan should be included and thereby give the weight of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

As for the fundamental disagreements, they did not disappear anywhere, no matter what the general secretary said that they should not overshadow the agreements. So Russia still claims that the expansion of the alliance threatens its safety. And if at the meetings of the Commissions “NATO-Ukraine” and “NATO-Georgia” about the accession of countries to the alliance was said as a long-term perspective (it was, first of all, about the results of the annual state program for integration for each of the countries; the results were found, in general, satisfactory, but both countries should still carry out a number of reforms), then Montenegro was decided to join the plan of action on the membership of NATO. The decision was also expected to have the fate of Bosnia and Herzegovina - this state promised an accession to the MSC, when significant progress in the reform will be testified. Russia also condemned NATO expansion plans in the Balkans - the same Rogozin stated before the meeting of ministers that the intention to “accelerate” the mentioned states into the alliance contradicts the interests of security in Europe and the region. The interlocutor of the “Daily Journal” in NATO stated that the Alliance is solved by such issues. Lavrov, for his part, noticed that increditedness interferes with their joint work. So it is still not deciphered, which is understood as “essential combat forces” that cannot be placed on the territory of new members of the alliance, so Russia believes that the bases that are created on the territory of Romania and Bulgaria relate to significant combat forces, and the United States assures that no.

Of course, there is still no convergence of positions on the issue of conflict in Georgia and the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Rasmussen continues to urge Russia to respect the territorial integrity of other states and refuse to recognize the independence of the republics. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton harshly states that her country never recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. And Lavrov repeats that the recognition of their independence is the respect of territorial integrity. In general, everyone understands everything perfectly in NATO, the head of the Russian Foreign Department insists, only continue to hide behind the outdated cliches. So, in the resolution of the NATO Council, at the level of foreign ministers, the integrity of Georgia is referred to, meanwhile, they say, we are not violating the agreements reached, but some other, and besides, the Georgian military potential with support from some, according to some sources, has already been completely restored and continues to act an armament of an offensive nature.

Another key point regarding which the parties cannot agree on the agreement on ordinary armed forces in Europe (DOVS). In NATO, it is believed that step by Russia they urge it to resume the exchange of information about the movement of military units and military equipment, otherwise it will be more difficult to provide Russia with relevant information. Russia, who announced in 2007 on the suspension of the contract, requires NATO countries that neglected the contract, to ratify it, and not fulfilling the additional conditions - to fulfill them. So far, no promotion is visible in this matter.

In a word, talking about global changes in relationships seems to be too early. But well, probably, that the interaction at a high level is renewed-silently cannot be resolved, and when the dialogue occurs, yet at least some hope appears. In addition, both Lavrov and the alliance noted that for the first time in several years, the Council meeting ended with specific results in the form of signed documents.

For NATO today - and at the situation at the meeting, this was clearly noticeable - the main problem is Afghanistan, Afghanistan and Afghanistan again. Based on the results of a joint meeting with representatives of the states - not members of the alliance participating in the Afghan operation, it was solemnly announced that in 2010 another 37 thousand soldiers would be sent to the country: of which 30 thousand American and seven thousand others (out of 25 countries). France and Germany have already stated that they would not send new soldiers to Afghanistan, and the Netherlands will be taken out of there at the end of next year. At the same time, Rasmussen and Clinton are trying in every possible way to emphasize the unity of the alliance regarding the understanding of the Afghan problem and the need to solve it. According to the current concept, the main emphasis should not be placed on hostilities, but on the training of specialists and financing various sectors of life within the country (this concept both Germany and France share). When asked how the intentions of the European Union relate to NATO's plans in Afghanistan to create his own army, the alliance representative answered in the sense that each organization solves its own tasks and NATO continues to cooperate with the EU to prepare the Afghan police.

They discussed at the meeting other issues, for example, about, but rather fluently, limiting himself to the approval of the new US approach, according to which the role of the Alliance in ensuring European Pro is becoming even more (in the resolution of the NATO Council, it is also said that the Alliance is ready to study the opportunity to connect the American, NATO and Russian missile defense systems at the appropriate time). It was expected that the ministers would affect the problem of the new strategic concept of NATO, but she was given very little time - at the spring meeting in Tallinn it is planned to consider a preliminary report on the work of an expert group specially collected to create a concept. By the way, Lavrov noted that in January of next year, representatives of this group will visit Russia. Meanwhile, Russia transferred the Medvedevsky Treaty on European Security to the Alliance and insisted at mentioning it in the agreements that the Russian Council will accept-this was another point of disagreement. As a result of the Rogozin Demarsh, the mention of the contract was included in the plan to improve the work of the Council. Meanwhile, Rasmussen repeatedly emphasized that the Alliance is ready to consider the proposals of the Russian president, but, first of all, they should be considered by the OSCE. Russia, on the other hand, insists that all organizations related to security in Europe discuss the plan of Medvedev. Here, practically, is another point of disagreement.

Photo by RIA Novosti