#14 - RW 279
Stability in Central Asia key to Russia's security - security official
RIA Novosti

Moscow, 23 October: Stability in Central Asia is an important factor of Russia's security, the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, Col-Gen Oleg Chernov, said on Thursday [23 October] while speaking at the international conference entitled "Russia and Central Asia: Issues of Cooperation and Security".

"The stability of this region and its economic and social growth are of importance to us. It is important for our security," Chernov said.

He said that the Central Asian region had a great deal of mineral wealth, including 3-3.5bn tonnes of oil.

He pointed out that political stability in the countries of this region did not measure up to the requirements of its explosive economic growth.

"The smallest of impulses could trigger off a chain reaction," Chernov said. He added that "currently only preconditions for the creation of a national security system are emerging in the Central Asian region".

"The Central Asian region does not have an organization similar to the European Union or large economic, social and security structures similar to European organizations," Chernov said.

Chernov voiced the view that the Collective Security Treaty Organization was a stabilizing factor in the region. "Its very existence is a stabilizing factor," he said.

He added that the collective rapid reaction forces established within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization played an important role in maintaining security and stability in the Central Asian region. He stressed that cooperation between Russia and Central Asia was a sign of the times.

"The region should become stable and prosperous," Chernov concluded.