WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 22, 2012 Friday
RUSSIA WILL SELL ARMS TO ITS ALLIES IN A SIMPLIER WAY
BY: Denis Telmanov
In his interview CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha spoke about
the problems with selling Russian military equipment and the role of
the CSTO in clearing the Russian pilots detained in Tajikistan.
Question: After a three-year dispute between the Russian military
ministries the Russian military producers on prices, the Defense
Ministry was removed from the acquisition of weapons and military
equipment. What about the CSTO countries? Are there any problems with
the procurement of Russian weapons for them?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: There are some problems. The multi-stage system of
decision-making on arms sales to the Russian allies is rather
complicated. The state maintains a very strict control over the entire
procedure of selling weapons, because the issue is very sensitive and
may seriously affect all the political spheres including the foreign
policy factor and the whole activity of the state. Therefore,
decisions are made at the level of the government of Russia. Sometimes
it takes several months. This causes complaints from our allies who
need to buy weapons as quickly as possible for the money allocated by
their governments.
Now the CSTO Secretariat together with the Russian Federal service for
military-technical cooperation (FSMTC) are working out special
regulations to facilitate the procedure of procurements for the CSTO
countries.
Question: A new structure engaged in the procurement of weapons for
the army will soon be created in Russia. Will it be able to somehow
simplify the procedure of selling weapons and equipment to the CSTO
countries?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: In my opinion, this structure will first of all
streamline the procurement system. It will also protect the interests
of Russian producers. Moreover, it will be evaluating the quality of
military products and advisability of their purchasing abroad,
especially when it comes to samples of weapons which are produced in
Russia, too,. and may be purchased for our military forces from the
Russian producers. On the whole, it will enhance the objectivity and,
most importantly, the quality of these purchases.
Question: And who determines the prices for the Russian weapons? No
secret, the Ministry of defense of Russia and Russian producers have
been bargaining about the prices for three years already. Who
regulates their prices for the countries of the CSTO?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: The CSTO has no access to the formation of prices.
It is the CSTO member-states who have the right to buy weapons at
Russian domestic prices on the basis of the Agreement on preferential
purchases of weapons and special equipment with no surcharges. The
final prices are determined by Rosoboronexport and FSMTC on the basis
of what producers demand. There are differences on some types of
equipment, especially the scientifically and technologically
complicated types. But as a rule our allies purchase the types which
have been exploited and sold for a long time already. These types are
sold at stable prices, and no questions arise.
There were cases when producers raised their prices, but after the
interference of the CSTO Secretariat and FSMTC these prices went back
to the norm. Sell at a higher price is a natural desire of any
manufacturer, and buy cheaper is a natural desire of any buyer. But
there is a government decree which regulates the preferential
inside-Russian prices for our allies.
Question: At present, do the CSTO countries buy more Western or
Russian armaments?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: The tendency is universal: absolute pragmatism
based on the technological potential of the equipment. They just
choose better equipment. Some foreign-made systems are really better –
for example, they highly appreciate the British sniper rifles. But the
general approach to the procurement of arms can not be changed because
of the following three factors.
Firstly, the allies have mostly Russian systems in their service –
armored vehicles, small arms, large artillery systems, anti-aircraft
complexes, etc. Thus, their personnel is trained to use these weapons.
The system of training in all the CSTO countries is almost one and the
same.
Secondly, they need weapons promptly compatible with the equipment of
other CSTO armies, and first of all with the Russian Armed forces
armaments. Compatibility is achieved only when the weapons are of the
same type.
Question: Why then the allied countries have some non-Russian weapons
in their service? There are American jeeps in Kazakhstan, Chinese
multiple launch rocket systems in Armenia…
Nikolai Bordyuzha: Many of the weapon systems were just gifted to them
within the framework of military assistance programs. By the way, we
also render them substantial military assistance. However, by and
large, all the CSTO States are focused on the purchase of equipment of
the Russian or Belarusian production.
Question: Vice-Premier of Russia Dmitry Rogozin is now responsible for
the purchase of weapons for the Army. Is he the catalyst for this
process, or does he slow it down?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: (…) He is now the catalyst for changes, and not
only in the military equipment sales system, but in all the changes in
the military-industrial complex of Russia, including in the relations
with the countries of the CSTO.
Question: Do you think Rogozin has achieved any success in the
position of Russia’s Ambassador to NATO? After all, Russian has failed
in trying to link the non-proliferation of missile defense system in
Europe with START-3.
Nikolai Bordyuzha: In any case, thanks to the negotiations we came to
the parity in offensive weapons which suits both Russia and the United
States. Now we are in the second stage. The negotiating process is
going on. Coming to a compromise is an extremely time-consuming and a
very complicated process.
(…)
Question: Let’s talk about the joint defense projects within the CSTO
format. At present Russia and Belarus develop our regional system of
air defense, which can then be transformed into ABM defense system,
with the new C-400 “Triumph” systems in service. May it be considered
as some kind of a symmetric answer to the European anti-missile
defense system, or is it our independent project?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: Well I wouldn’t say that it is the direct CSTO
answer to Europe. It is a planned work in the framework of the CSTO
and the Union state of Russia and Belarus. Though, the same system is
being created and in Armenia… Negotiations are under way on the
creation of the Russian-Kazakhstan regional air defense system in
Central-Asian region, with further participation of Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan.
Question: And is it possible to form a sort of an air defense CSTO
system in the future?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: We are already on this road. First we shall create
regional systems, and then connect them in a common system.
(…)
Question: May other countries join this system in the future? Iran, for example?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: True, Iran made unofficial statements about its
possible participation in the work of the CSTO. But no further steps
followed.
Question: Has this possibility been discussed at some level?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: No, why? After all, Iran has not initiated this
issue… If Iran submitted a formal statement to join the CSTO, we
would consider this statement in accordance with the established
procedure, and if a consensus positive solution were adopted (after,
of course, the study of all the positive aspects), Iran would become
an observer or a member of the organization.
Question: Is Iran viewed as a probable enemy?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: I wouldn’t now talk about the scenarios around
Iran, it’s too touchy. I know one thing and said it many times before:
the world community should not allow any attack on Iran.
(…)
Question: In what direction the CSTO will develop?
Nikolai Bordyuzha: Military cooperation. Work on the suppression of
terrorist and extremist organizations, illegal migration and human
trafficking, collective response to emergency situations – we are
planning to make it one of the priority directions. We will have a
common emergency service with a common information base, a common
system of monitoring and forecasting, a common technical policy,
preferential procurement system of the Russian rescue equipment.
(…)
Source: Izvestiya (Moscow issue), June 21, p. 1