December 1, 2008 - 16:04 AMT
Marat Shibutov: CSTO to become a small analog of UN and NATO
The changes occurring within the Collective Security Treaty Organization mean that the CSTO will replace international forces throughout the CIS, a Kazakh expert said.

"The CSTO will become a small analog of UN and NATO," Marat Shibutov, a member of the Association of Frontier Cooperation, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"It means the following: Russia officially 'takes care' of the member countries. Besides, it will install air defense system of the member countries and CSTO troops will be the only peacekeeping force in their territory," he said.

"World actors and neighbors should keep in mind that further steps to strengthen the CSTO will make its member countries more pro-Russian. Furthermore Russia may also accept South Ossetia and Abkhazia to the CSTO to ensure their security, thus granting the new entities a status similar to that of Northern Cyprus," he added.

"The CSTO is gaining authority and promises to become the main force in the CIS," Shibutov said.