AssA-Irada,
20, September 2007

The increasing military power of Azerbaijan and Georgia is a threat to the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), its secretary general said. Nikolay Bordyuzha was replying to journalists' question concerning potential threats to the bloc of former Soviet republics after a conference of the organization's Security Council executives.

"Certain countries' statements that they intend to resolve "frozen" conflicts through military action, the escalating military activities and defense spending, and the increasing number of Azerbaijani and Georgian armed forces are a serious threat to us," he said and added that the issue was being discussed "within the CSTO's limited circles". The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Khazar Ibrahim regarded the statement as Bordyuzha's personal views, while the Defense Ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu said it was "surprising".

"It is evident that the secretary general made the statement as he was not satisfied with Defense Minister Safar Abiyev's [recent] visit to Georgia. He is aware of the factors exacerbating tension in the South Caucasus. It is these countries' whose territories are under a threat, while Azerbaijan's rising military budget should not cause anyone to panic," Sabiroglu said.

The CSTO comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It was established in October 2002 to ensure peace, preserve the territorial integrity of member countries, coordinate activities in the fight against international terror, drug trafficking, and organized crime, and to provide immediate military aid to a CSTO member in the event of a military threat.