NATO Individual Democratic Institutions Research Fellowships (1994-1996)

Collective Security System of the CIS States and Measures Providing Peace on the Territory of the Former Soviet Union Alexander Yegorov (Belarus) [Back to Index] Conclusion Despite persistent efforts of Russia, aimed at putting it into play, the Treaty on Collective Security is likely to have the fate of dozens of other documents signed by the heads of states and governments of the CIS, that remain as declarations of good intentions. The attempts to create a regional collective security system, on the basis of the Treaty, having military-political goals associated with the preservation of a single area of defence as allied armed forces, were not very successful. Opinion is being formed that some CIS member-states had originally, and continue to have, a rather indifferent attitude to the Treaty itself and to all other documents adopted under it. One of the reasons for this is that the NIS, concerned first of all with the creation of their own defence and security system, interpret Russia's attempts to more clearly define the formation of a security structure, within the CIS, with a certain deal of distrust. Thus, regarding them as a possible threat to restore dictatorial control from of Moscow in military-political matters. Practicality also dictates that somewhat slow and ineffective implementation of the Treaty on Collective Security can be explained by the lack of a capable central body, which could deal with real rather than formal co-ordination of activities aimed at implementation of jointly-adopted decisions. Although, by now, certain elements that could constitute a CSS, have been set up, the system, as a whole, is not clearly seen yet. This situation is not likely to change in the near future if the possibility is excluded that future NATO enlargement will force Russia, Belarus and some other CIS republics, to take reciprocal measures, inter alia in terms of strengthening the foundation of the collective security system within the CIS, up to the creation of a new alliance. The very idea of creating a CSS in the CIS can be very advantageous if viewed from the standpoint of a regional collective security system set up in the territory of the former Soviet Union, that could become an inherent component or even a subsystem of a universal and comprehensive security for the Europe of the 21st century, a model of which is being now developed in the OSCE. As to peacekeeping, joint activity toward preventing and settling conflicts, as well as joint peacekeeping operations, are viewed by Russia and its close allies as a key component of policy on strengthening national security, preservance of territorial integrity and independence of states. There are reasons to believe that the adoption of the Concept, on preventing and settling conflicts in the CIS territory, adopted 19 January 1996 by the heads of states of the CIS, will make it possible to more clearly define the collective organisation and legalities toward peacekeeping and somewhat lessen concerns, of the Western countries tending to see the peacekeeping initiatives of Russia in the CIS region, to be the example of "neo-imperialist" initiatives from Moscow.