#5
Parlamentskaya Gazeta,
July 25, 2002
SOCIETY WILL MONITOR THE MILITARY
Russia takes up some military challenges
Author: Vitaliy Strugovets
[translation from RIA Novosti for personal use only]

THE DUMA DEFENSE COMMITTEE HELD A TRADITIONAL SPRING BRIEFING FOR FOREIGN MILITARY ATTACHES. THEY WERE INTERESTED IN RUSSIA'S POSITION ON GLOBAL TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS, IRAQ, CIVILIAN MONITORING OF ARMED FORCES, AND AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.

The Duma Defense Committee held a traditional spring briefing for military attaches of foreign states. The meeting gathered 104 military diplomats from 71 countries. Chairperson of the Committee Andrei Nikolayev gave a detailed answer to every question.

Romania's defense attache: Tell us about results of the spring session of the Duma Defense Committee.

Andrei Nikolayev: The spring session considered 28 draft laws the Committee was in charge of. The President of Russia signed 7 federal laws, including one constitutional, on issues the Committee was in charge of. All of them are aimed at strengthening social protection of service people and citizens dismissed from military service and their families, as well as perfecting legislation on compulsory military service.

Israel's defense attache: Your attitude to the problem of terrorism?

Nikolayev: Humanity encountered a new global phenomenon - terrorist warfare. It particular trait is a low efficiency of usual military means. Terrorism is not an object of influence, but a consequence of politics. It is politics that must be influenced, but not only its manifestations.

India's defense attache: What is your vision of the role of organizations for security. There is a whole range of such structures currently. There is a great possibility of encounter or even conflict of interests.

Nikolayev: The problem is that rejection of tried ideas and constructions in international security started to be recompensed with momentary initiatives to preserve and expand organizations whose efficiency in new circumstanced arouses much doubt.

The opportunities of the OSCE as a universal international organization in for Europe that acts on behalf of more than 50 states are not accomplished in full. Thus, the huge democratic and moral potential of the OSCE has not been made use of up to now.

The idea of transforming NATO into a universal security system is very persistent today. However, who can guarantee that interests of 19 countries will not be thrust on the rest European states? This is only one point in the huge mass of problems connected with NATO expansion.

Vietnam's defense attache: What is the Duma's position concerning the ratification of the strategic offensive potentials reduction treaty between Russia and the US?

Nikolayev: I think this treaty will be ratified. Both Russia and the US need the treaty on order that the process of control of armaments and reduction of strategic arms be continuous.

However, this treaty is an interim stage, a basis for future work on new documents from the point of view of determining periods, stages, and the system of control.

There is another point. We are approaching a stage when the nuclear potentials of Russia and the US are becoming comparable with those of other nuclear powers. Time is approaching when all nuclear powers sit to the negotiating table.

Yugoslavia's defense attache: What approach and what legal basis will Russia have for civil control of force structures?

Nikolayev: Society is not only entitled but also obliged to control the state's military organization. Many issues have already been settled in this country. The armed forces act on the basis of the Constitution. The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The Federal Assembly has relevant authority - both the Duma and the Federation Council. Determined is the role of public of organizations.

In the future, legislation on civil control of Russia's military organization may develop along two lines. The first is perfection of functioning legislation which may be introduced amendments according to new requirements of control.

The second is to pass a special law to regulate issues connected with civil control. A number of Defense Committee members and other Duma deputies manifested this initiative.

The US air attache: What are relations between governors, the president's appointee heads of federal districts, and commanders of military districts?

Nikolayev: Governors are members of military councils of districts and fleets. They take active part in decision making concerning the functioning of military structures. However, governors are not authorized to command troops.

The president's permanent envoys to federal districts also participate in relevant military councils. However, they are not authorized to command troops either. This is the jurisdiction of the president, the Defense Ministry, the General Staff, and commanders-in- chief.

Iraq's military attache: What measures will the Russian party take in connection with US intention to strike a blow on Iraq taking into account there are not any proofs the latter's support of terrorism or connection with the September 11 events?

Nikolayev: The Duma proceeds from the idea that a sovereign state may not be subjected to any impact, including military, without a decision of the UN and its Security Council. Therefore, the unilateral definition of Iraq as an "axis of evil" state is wrong.

This country's position was voiced by the president and the government and it consists in the following. There are no international proofs that could be produced to Iraq. Second, Iraq makes certain steps in its policy that allow the international community to make sure it fulfills obligations it undertook. This creates conditions to leave out any military impact on Iraq.

The US air attache: What measures are taken in connection with the increased accident rate of airplanes and helicopters?

Nikolayev: Extra funds are planned to by allocated for repair and updating of aviation in 2003. The Defense Minister has recently stated updating aircraft is the main task in maintaining the operational readiness of the air forces. Funds for this are allocated as soon as this year.

The US naval attache: What are the time limits to transfer Russia's naval base from Sevastopol to Novorossiisk?

Nikolayev: Russia and Ukraine undertook the following: Russia's naval base in Sevastopol will function until 2017. I understand the matter is about where the Black Sea Fleet may be based at all. In due time, there was research conducted. The assumed basing place is the area from Novorossiisk to the port of Caucasus. Building a full-blown naval base requires about 10 years and a few billions of dollars, experts say.

Indonesia's defense attache: What role will Russia play in the NATO military strategy without veto?

Nikolayev: Russia will interact with NATO within the scope of the "twenty" for nine problems. The rest issues will be decided on in the previous, "nineteen plus one", format.

Iran's defense attache: What is the attitude of Russia's military-political leadership to the presence of U.S. service people in Georgia?

Nikolayev: I will answer according to the president's words: "Basically, we treat this from the point of view that Georgia is a sovereign state. It makes decision whom to invite to ensure its security by itself". Perhaps, seeing off Russian service people Georgia's leadership thinks American military will be more efficient in solving problems of military security. Does Russia's military- political leadership draw conclusions from this? Of course, it does.

(Translated by P. Pikhnovsky)

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