Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov 19 / Trend V.Zhavoronkova /
The opportunity of Uzbekistan to return to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) depends on the future policy of the organization, Uzbek expert Rafik Sayfulin stated.
"The organization's further policy will largely depend on Uzbekistan's position," Sayfulin told Trend over phone.
Russian Foreign Ministry hopes that Uzbekistan will become a full member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) again, RIA Novosti reported with reference to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
"We look forward to continue working in this direction, for Uzbekistan to restore its role as a full-fledged member of the organization," the deputy minister said.
Uzbekistan suspended its participation in the organization in June 2012.
According to Sayfulin, within 20 years of its existence, the CSTO hasn't proved itself.
The realization mechanism of its potential remains unclear and the notion that there is such an alliance is equivocal, he said.
According to the expert, Uzbek government exceptionally follows national interests in its foreign policy and defines priorities in this regard.
In addition, the documentation process on Uzbekistan's withdrawal from the organization is not yet complete, suggesting the possibility of the republic's returning to the organization, he said.
Uzbekistan has left the Collective Security Treaty Organization once in 1999, when the country did not prolong the contract with the organization. In 2006, Tashkent has restored membership.
After the withdrawal of Uzbekistan, six member states remained in the CSTO: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.