Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov introduces
plan to fight international evil, in Beijing, on behalf of Russian authorities
Posted on 04/27/2006 11:52:55 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Iran is eager to join SCO...
...To fight against 3 evils
Defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states and representatives of the SCO observer states met in regular session in Beijing yesterday. The SCO tends to become a military bloc, judging by the resolutions it adopted. The participants scheduled joint military exercises on Russian territory for summer 2007. Iran too intends to take part in the exercises, according to Kommersant’s information. This observer state counts on becoming a rightful SCO member state soon. The 3 evils
Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov took the limelight during the SCO session in Beijing. The SCO’s plans for shared use of military force by its member states were discussed during the session, and it was Ivanov who revealed these plans to the press. According to Ivanov, the SCO states are prepared to use force together “to fight back against new threats and challenges, especially international terrorism, in particular its large-scale acts organized with the help of IT and modern high-tech weapons.” Ivanov explained that it is necessary to use military force to protect the peace of the SCO nations: “Almost half of the world’s inhabitants lives on the vast SCO territory. So it is our main task to guarantee stability and security to the region, and to provide conditions for a peaceful coexistence of nations.” (The total number of people living in China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan barely exceeds 25% of the world’s population.—Kommersant).
Ivanov developed his idea by saying that the SCO states can use joint military force only to fight back against the threats of terrorism, extremism, and separatism. Apparently, such list of threats was suggested to Ivanov by his Chinese counterpart, as Chinese modern official propaganda traditionally denounces the trine “terrorism, extremism, and separatism” as “the 3 evils” threatening China.
The SCO joint anti-terrorist exercises should show its readiness to fight against “the 3 evils”. It was Ivanov who suggested the exercises. He believes they may take place in 2007 on a combined-arms firing ground in Privolzhsko-Uralsky military district (it might be Chebarkul). Other defense ministers accepted Moscow’s offer yesterday. The preparation to the exercises is to begin next month. All six SCO member states—Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan—will take part in the exercises.
Although defense ministries and general staffs of the SCO states still have to work out the precise scenario for manoeuvres, Ivanov has already outlined the plan yesterday. The armed forces of the six states must, if necessary, help frontier guard to bloc or, possibly, to destroy large armed gangs attempting to cross the border of a SCO country. “There exists a real threat that the armed gangs may trespass the SCO borders, so it is not a far-fetched pretext,” warned Sergei Ivanov. “These objectives require that we have all necessary forces—special forces, aviation, precision weapons, which may help to bloc and destroy illegal armed units.”
The seventh member
Beside the six SCO member states, a seventh country intends to participate in preparation of the military exercises in Privolzhsko-Uralsky military district. This country is only an observer state now. It however plans to become a rightful SCO member state this summer. According to Kommersant’s information, this country is Iran.
The subject of Iran was one of the central points in Sergei Ivanov’s talks in Beijing. He admitted having discussed Iran nuclear situation with his Chinese colleagues. Traditionally, Russia and China share their stand on Iran. Last week, during the meeting between deputy foreign ministers in Moscow, they both protested against imposing sanctions on Iran.
Still, these 2 countries will have to alter their stand soon. First, tomorrow is the deadline for UN Security Council’s ultimatum to Iran. By tomorrow, Iran should suspend its uranium enrichment activities. This is not going to happen, though. Besides, the position of China might slightly change due to the continuing world tour of China's President Hu Jin Tao. In the course of his tour President Hu discussed the Iran issue in the U.S. and keeps discussing it in oil-supplying countries (Comrade Hu arrived to Nigeria yesterday).
So far, Moscow and Beijing do not mind showing their support for Tehran and giving it the green light to join the SCO. Pro forma, it will only mean that Russia and China continue their efforts to resolve Iran nuclear stand-off by talks. Despite confirming the concern for Iran’s future, Ivanov pointed out that the SCO will not defend Iran should the U.S. attack it. “Iran is an observer state in the SCO, so no one bears any responsibilities to protect it. I discard right away any idiotic ideas that the SCO will defend Iran. On the other hand, whatever happens in Iran is important to Russia and China.”
The first refusal
Beijing session of the SCO actively discussed involving other members, beside Iran. Pakistan has officially applied, and India has unofficially expressed its intention to join the SCO. However, the official SCO representatives spoke evasively about its possible expansion. SCO’s Secretary General Zhang Deguang said that “many SCO members are for its intensive, but not extensive, development; now is not the best time to expand the organization, as it might hinder its effectiveness.” Another difficulty is that China actively supports Pakistan’s intention to join the SCO, while Russia may concede to this only if India is accepted at the same time. Ivanov did not altogether deny the possibility of a new SCO member, but did not name the country. “The SCO is an open organization,” he said, adding that its resolutions are never secret files.
Besides, according to Kommersant’s information, Beijing also hosted talks between Moscow, Dushanbe and Delhi concerning the foundation of an Indian air-base at the Aini airfield in Tajikistan (near Dushanbe). This air-base will be put into service by the end of the year. The airfield will host up to 12 battle-planes MiG-29 of Indian Air Force. Tajikistan Defense Ministry refused to give Kommersant any comments on the Indian military presence.
Finally, yet another country wishes to join the SCO. It turned out to be Belarus. However, Sergei Ivanov continued Gazprom’s opposition to the regime of Alexander Lukashenko and doubted whether Minsk would be admitted. “Belarus is not an Asian country, unlike Russia which is both European and Asian,” snapped Ivanov.
We are in danger of a potential world war of huge proportions, larger than World War II IMHO.
Take your Dragons Fury series, and add Russia/USSR as a MAJOR active military player, siding with the Chinese openly by attacking US bases in Central Asia and attacking Poland after getting a neutrality treaty with Germany and France.
Also, place Russian IRBM's in Cuba and Venezuela.
'nuff said.
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