Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 4 / Trend , K.Zarbaliyeva, J.Babayeva/
Azerbaijani military experts do not believe the united military contingent established under the auspices of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will influence national security.
"Azerbaijan is maintaining the correct position by not joining the CSTO or signing a contract to form a joint military contingent. Russia continues to pursue its policies to establish authority in the post-Soviet territory," independent military expert and Chairman of the Democratic Civil Supervisory Board Alakbar Mammadov said.
Moscow is hosting a CSTO meeting today. The organization's Foreign Ministers Council, Defense Ministers Council and Secretary Board of Security Councils are attending. The meeting will focus on forming collective military forces. An agreement has already been developed and will be signed.
The CSTO is a military union composing 7 countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The organization was formed on the basis of the Collective Security Treaty on May 15. The treaty became an international organization on May 14, 2002. The UN granted its general assembly monitoring status on Dec. 2, 2004. Azerbaijan is not a member.
Mammadov said Russia always supported Armenia militarily. This is part of its policy, he added.
"Armenia began occupying Azerbaijani lands with Russia's support. Russia will not change its position toward Armenia even if Azerbaijan signs the treaty," Mammadov said.
Mammadov said if Azerbaijan joins the CSTO, Russia will seek to strengthen its position in the country.
The military expert said Azerbaijan should continue integrating with the West, seeking NATO membership and gaining the West's support in its struggle against Armenia.
"If we sign the agreement, we will lose the support of the West," Mammadov said.
Another independent military expert Uzeyir Jafarov told Trend that the CSTO's move to establish collective military forces will not create any serious danger in the future.
"Azerbaijan's decision not to join the bloc will not lead to any serious danger. I do not think that Russia will openly interfere in Azerbaijan as was the case in Georgia," Jafarov said.
He added that Armenia will take advantage of its membership by purchasing military equipment with considerable concessions.
Azerbaijan has maintained a neutral position in military processes in the CIS, the expert said.
Russia, in turn, is trying to include Azerbaijan under its sphere of influence.
Jafarov did not exclude that Azerbaijan will join the CSTO in the future.
"Azerbaijan must observe military processes in the CIS and take relevant steps to safeguard national security and integrity," he said.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's Press Secretary Eldar Sabiroglu refused to comment on the issue for Trend .
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