Recent events in the South Caucasus call for pause, reflection and contemplation. With the benefit of hindsight, let’s go back to the history of our country in the not too distant past.
We see the many machinations of the Russians during nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Their confrontation and sometimes cooperation with other powers in occupying Iran, establishing spheres of influence, forcing Tehran to dump its neutrality in WWII, the tactic of backing rival internal factions to undermine the country’s futureÉ testify to Moscow’s inherent opportunism.
Now a question arises: Has the Georgian blunder provided Russia with an opportunity to enter into a new deal with the West at Iran’s expense? Are they holding us to ransom É?
It is not only the bitter memories of the past that is so disturbing. In the past three decades we have not seen any sincere approach from the Kremlin.
Russian interference in our northern and western regions, its support, albeit under the banner of the former Soviet Union, for Saddam Hussein’s bloody war against Iran, playing at times to the western tunes against our civilian nuclear program, employing delaying tactics in completing the Bushehr Nuclear Power PlantÉdemand serious caution. To say the least, we must contemplate more seriously before relying on the Russians.
Having common enemy, namely the United States, should not distract us from the fact that Russia, like any other country, is more concerned about its own national and security interests. It does not hesitate for a moment when it comes to choose between its national interest and treaty obligations.
The influx of news and information in today’s complicated world is such that we often overlook some that look very simple but are appalling in substance. Just to get a glimpse of what is unfolding, we need to explore some recent events.
Three items could be discussed. First, Russian suggestion to the United States in installing the missile defense system in Azerbaijan instead of Poland and Czech Republic to realize the so-called Iranian threat.
Second, Moscow’s talks with NATO for closer cooperation and a request for veto power in that military organization. Third, the ambitious proposal from Moscow for future cooperation with the West for new European security arrangements.
Russia may protest the enlargement of NATO towards its doorstep, but it may accommodate with a more dangerous one for others.
In a speech to Russian ambassadors in Moscow in July and prior to that in Berlin, President Demitry Medvedev said Russia needs to do much more in projecting its interests and defending them. He again floated the idea of a new security forum for Europe. On July 28 Dmitri Rogozin, Russia’s ambassador to NATO, explained the proposal in detail. At the heart of it, Rogozin said was a new European security treaty that would be a legally binding document.
While proposing a Russian grand design for security in Europe, Rogozin, who has a reputation of a fierce Russian nationalist, said now that his country has restored its “historically inherent economic, political and military role, it continues to view its security as an integral part of the common European one.“
Moscow, he noted, wants to convene an international forum to include the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO, the European Union, the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States and the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization which includes Central Asian countries.
The proposal would establish a broad security pact from Canada to Vladivostok that could even include countries like China and India. Had NATO conceded, it would be of serious concern to us.
One may suggest that the Caucasus crisis is an opportunity for us if we stop deploring for the Russians who are facing probable political and economic punitive actions from their western partners. We could do better to focus on our own future and perhaps balance our policy toward the outside world to secure our national interests.
We can and should rise to the occasion, and explore the ways and means to strengthen our position in the international community. After all, the direction enshrined in our Constitution -- Neither East Nor West -- should be uppermost in our mind.