"With regard to Afghanistan, our NATO partners have for the past 10 years stubbornly declined our proposals to establish working relations with the CSTO, even though it would be a natural alliance. NATO provides the bulk of the forces that operate inside Afghanistan, whereas the CSTO regularly conducts anti-drug and anti-terrorism operations on Afghanistan’s outer perimeter. Joining our efforts in real time would have increased the effectiveness of the efforts to stabilise Afghanistan. But for purely ideological reasons, NATO categorically refused to cooperate with the CSTO. Of course, this does not help the cause."
CSTO: Collective Security Treaty Organization of (currently), Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. Observers: Afghanistan, Serbia. "Possible candidates": Iran.
Ambassador Fraser said we should always talk to the Russians as we always talked to the Soviets. Russia was helpful on Syria, CSTO and NATO do seem like a "natural alliance" here, NATO, don't be "stubborn." Seriously, if it would do any good, it would be great if NATO could work with Russia here.It would give Russia "respect," and it so desires respect, it would treat Russia as a "partner," and neither Lavrov nor Putin has ever stopped referring to America as a partner.
CSTO: Collective Security Treaty Organization of (currently), Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. Observers: Afghanistan, Serbia. "Possible candidates": Iran.
Ambassador Fraser said we should always talk to the Russians as we always talked to the Soviets. Russia was helpful on Syria, CSTO and NATO do seem like a "natural alliance" here, NATO, don't be "stubborn." Seriously, if it would do any good, it would be great if NATO could work with Russia here.It would give Russia "respect," and it so desires respect, it would treat Russia as a "partner," and neither Lavrov nor Putin has ever stopped referring to America as a partner.
