DUSHANBE, October 10, Asia-Plus — A positive surprise of the CIS summit in Dushanbe was transition from setting and discussing a broad range of issues to discussing the one, but the most important, Tajik independent expert Rashid G. Abdullo.
“If earlier, the CIS summits had been discussing many issues, which had frequently even not been connected with each other, a transition to setting and discussing one but big issue was outlined at the summit in Dushanbe,” said the expert, “Thus, this year, it is planned to focus on the labor migration problem. It is really very important problem for all CIS states, especially for Tajikistan.”
Besides, signing of deal between the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on broadening cooperation in Dushanbe was also surprise. “Tendency of these two organizations for coordination of actions is quite natural. The memorandum is necessary step towards formalization of really existing coordination of actions and military cooperation among countries being members of these organizations,” Rashid G. Abdullo said, adding that most probably, this cooperation will expand in future as well, acquiring organizational forms. “If all turns in this way, the world will become quieter, because being in state of one-polarity without opposite restraining pole the world has become more instable and unsafe.”
The expert noted that statement delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin had also been interesting. The Russian president, in particular, said that Russia supports independence of Tajikistan. “If my memory does not deceive me, it is almost the first such statement by head of the Russian state over the past 16 years,” said Rashid G. Abdullo, “Any high-ranking US state official arriving in Dushanbe in the first place states the United States supports and is ready to promote strengthening of independence of Tajikistan, while we have practically not heard such statements from the high-ranking Russian officials.”
“Statement by Putin shows that Russia is getting used to the new Post-Soviet status of both Russia itself and other former Soviet republic,” the expert said.
On the issues of reforming the CIS, Rashid G. Abdullo said that the current form of the Commonwealth allows it successfully fulfilling its functions. “It provides ground for regular meetings of if not all but the major part of the CIS heads of state, allows discussing problems being common for all, as well as provides opportunities for bilateral meetings for discussing more concrete issues being of mutual interest,” said the expert said, “Therefore, there is no necessity break a lance over reforming of the CIS.”
According to him, the issues that cannot be resolved in the framework of the CIS are resolved or may be resolved in the framework of other organizations such as the CSTO and the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC).
“The objective of the CIS is to set and tackle the most essential problems – migration, transportation, etc. In my opinion, it would be better no to blow up the CIS reforming issue at all, because as practice shows, reforms carried out on the post-Soviet area are usually yielding opposite results,” the expert said.
