Kazakhstan, Astana, July 4 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
Contrary to comments in the media, Uzbekistan's withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) will not weaken this organisation, but rather will strengthen the relationship between the participants, the director of the analytical center of the Institute of International Studies of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Andrey Kazantsev, believes.
"It seems to me that the comments in the media, which describe the disastrous consequences of Uzbekistan's withdrawal from the CSTO, are exaggerated. Decision to withdraw was made not even six months ago, I would say that a few years ago. In fact, Uzbekistan ceased its participation in the CSTO, that is, giving troops and money, much earlier, in around 2009. In fact there has been no real cooperation with the CSTO," Kazantsev said during a videoconference on Wednesday.
He said all that we see today in Central Asia is not new.
"All of this is a multi-vector policy of these countries," Kazantsev noted.
He said it's not worthy worrying in connection with withdrawal of Uzbekistan from the CSTO. It is necessary to strengthen integration in the CSTO and to link it with the Eurasian integration, and pay special attention to cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan as Kazakhstan is the hegemon in Central Asia and in cooperation with Kazakhstan, all the interactions in the CSTO can be addressed.