The countries of the Caspian Sea are to consider the establishment of the Committee of the Commanders of the Naval Forces by the end of the year, Russian Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov said at the opening ceremony of the Caspian Cup and Caspian Derby.
"It is planned to discuss the issue of the Committee of Commanders of the Naval Forces of the Caspian States at the next meeting,’’ Tass cites him as saying.
"The close cooperation between the navies of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and other countries that have access to the Caspian Sea allows us to strengthen the peaceful environment and mutually monitor maritime activities in the region. Competitions will allow us to understand each other better," the admiral said.
He reminded that the establishment of the Committee is being held according to the decision of the Defense Minister of Russia Sergey Shoigu. Fleet commanders of the region have already held their first working meeting during the International Maritime Defense Show in St Petersburg.
According to Deputy Chairman of the Editorial Board of Vestnik Kavkaza, the General Director of the Institute of the Caspian Cooperation Sergey Mikheyev, the creation of such a body "will be useful from the viewpoint of mutual trust, because there are speculations that the Caspian countries are increasing their military capabilities, which could cause a mutual threat."
"I think that if there is a coordinating body such fears will remain in the past. At least, we won’t give our detractors any reasons for speculation. It will be a body of mutual trust, which allows to coordinate efforts in counter-terrorism activities, poaching traffic, organized crime, etc. In general, it seems to me that this body is necessary from the viewpoint of political expediency, as well as terms of security," he said.
According to the expert, this structure is indirectly able to increase security in the Caspian region. "It won’t ensure the security of the Caspian region directly, it will be focused on the co-ordination of the five states. Security is provided by means of trust. Trust is security,’’ Sergey Mikheyev concluded.
