Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 July / Trend / On the threshold of the G8 summit to take place in Japan, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev gave an interview to journalists, in which he noted significance and urgency of CIS. "It is good that the mechanism is preserved, as after Soviet Union collapsed, we did not create anything else to unify almost all former Soviet republics, except of Baltic countries. CIS must be highly esteemed," he said.
CIS experts commented on the issue to Trend :
Azerbaijan, former presidential advisor for foreign policy, political scientist Vafa Guluzade:
- CIS turned to be a dead born child since the very beginning. The reason for that is only one - USSR's collapse put Russia in an ambiguous situation. Russia is the largest CIS country. It had to be the leader and the locomotive. It had to set a good example to all CIS countries.
But the real situation is vice versa. Russia's economy collapsed, so the country is not economically attractive. The communist ideology, which was magnetic to the people, also collapsed. No levers or points remained for Russia to keep the country within CIS.
I can say the Commonwealth split long ago, since it is not operating as a collective body. Moreover, CIS is experiencing such flagrant contradiction as a military conflict between its two members. Russia, heading the CIS and being a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, cannot solve that military conflict.
Russia, deputy director of the Institute of CIS Countries Vladimir Zharikhin:
- The Commonwealth is of current importance at least because no country has left it. And the talks on several countries' intention to leave have abated. CIS is less and less playing the role which it was destined - an integration structure. Indeed, the countries differ in terms of population, GDP, etc. And it is impossible to create real economic integration structures through the principle 'one country - one vote'. At the moment, CIS plays two necessary roles. First is serving to the common heritage which remained from the Soviet Union - infrastructure, various standards, electricity lines, humanitarian agreements, reciprocal recognition of diplomas, etc. This role will be gradually descending in CIS along with development of new infrastructures, new mutual relations, new transport and other flows. At the same time CIS will gain a more enhanced role as a regional organization uniting the countries in the region with common, sometimes contradicting interests, as neighbors. CIS is a ground to regulate relations between the countries in the region as in case of Organization of American States which includes US, Venezuela and Cuba at the same time. Therefore, there is no point to say that CIS is inefficient because there Russia is conflicting with Georgia. For instance, there are tense relations between countries in the Central Asia. However, CIS role is of great significance as a regional organization and venue for meeting of leaders. The integration initiatives are carried out in more limited format - EvraASEC, CSTO, union of Russia and Belarus, GUAM which emerged within CIS.
Kazakhstan, Dosim Satpayev, political expert and director of political risks assessment group:
- The fact that CIS has persisted so far is a big achievement. Concerning its role, CIS is a ground for dialogue between the states where they can meet and discuss painful issues. CIS does not almost solve the regional problems in the post soviet space. These problems are addressed by bilateral agreements. Unfortunately, CIS does not have efficient instrument to prevent or solve these problems. It suits majority of its members.
I would like to mention Ukraine and Georgia's critics toward CIS who said that they can even withdraw from it, but they did not do so. Everyone understands that CIS gives them certain opportunity to contact with Russia. CIS has gained its niche in spite of the alternative organizations such as GUAM. Over 20,000 bills on various issues were signed within CIS 20% of which are in effect.
The heads of the CIS member states will regularly meet, therefore I think that the Commonwealth has future as a bridge of relations between the former soviet republics.
Georgia, independent expert Giya Khukhashvili
- CIS is an important union, but less efficient. Though summits, meetings and consultations regularly held within CIS, this organization has lost its efficiency. The role of CIS is inefficient especially in the solution of separate problems. It is possible to set an example from Georgia and ineffectiveness of the CIS in resolving its conflicts. CIS does not have a possibility to accomplish reciprocal actions against that background when Russia - a country, which actually individually governs the Commonwealth, realizes annexation of the territories of Georgia. I consider illogical that due to complicated Georgian-Russian relations Georgia did not require an extraordinary session to the CIS Council, did not require answer from Russia with regards to its leaving the agreement adopted by the organization regarding blockade of Abkhazia and that Georgia again remains the member of Commonwealth. It would be more logically, if Georgia made statement on leaving it, although it is incomprehensible why this procedure is involved.
With regards to prospects of the CIS, proceeding from the fact that Russia, as dominant, has illusion to imitate the re-establishment of the Soviet Union and strengthen its influence on the post-Soviet countries, the Commonwealth has future, but without Georgia. Proceeding from the fact that Russia strengthens control over many countries of the CIS, this organization has the certain prospect, but I exclude participation of Georgia, Ukraine and partially Azerbaijan in it.
Ukraine, Director of Penta Political Analyzes Center Vladimir Fesenko:
- Today the CIS can be considered the unique political club, in which participate the leaders of the countries, leaders of governments, individual state institutions. Practically there is not much benefit from this organization. As they said, this is "trunk without the knob" - it is heavy to carry, but it's a pity to throw because there are some necessary things and therefore it is necessary to pull it further.
In this case there is defined benefit, but it is very limited, its effectiveness is very low as political club, as the tool of sequential influence, in particular, of Russia on other countries of the CIS, this organization fulfills its functions. Therefore it will remain, possibly will be transformed into something like the British Commonwealth. Certainly, the CIS has no comparison with the European Union or with other similar international organizations
CIS is an unique organization as the manifestation of the policy of state inertia, the organization, which unites countries with the post-Soviet traditions and the values, in this sense, the CIS will exist. Hardly it will survive some renaissance, but the limited benefit from it exists, in this sense it will be used even further as political club.
The article was prepared by D.Bobesuk ( Ukraine), N.Kirtskhalia ( Georgia), R.Agayev ( Russia), E.Tariverdiyeva ( Azerbaijan), V.Zhavoronkova ( Azerbaijan).