15 June 2004 15:39
Russian paper raps Kazakh air defence deal with UK firm
Text of article by Gennadiy Sysoyev entitled "Air alarm. Kazakhstan deals blow to CIS air defence"
published by Russian newspaper Kommersant on 15 June; subheadings inserted editorially
Major controversy is flaring up in relations between Russia and Kazakhstan. Kommersant has learned that, despite
numerous warnings from Moscow, Astana signed a contract last week with Britain's BAE Systems to update the
country's air defence systems. NATO will now obtain access to the CIS joint air defence system and Russia will have
to undertake considerable additional expenditure.
Moscow has long been sounding the alarm regarding Astana's plans to update its air defence system. During his
January visit to Kazakhstan Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin clearly intimated to President Nursultan
Nazarbayev that orientation to Western military technology constitutes a breach of Kazakhstan's commitments under
the 1995 agreement on the formation of the CIS joint air defence system.
After all, as a result NATO will obtain access to certain elements of the CIS air defence system and this will oblige
Russia to undertake additional expenditure on the appropriate countermeasures.
Three months later when Mr Nazarbayev came to Moscow it emerged that Kazakhstan was in no hurry to take account of
Russia's concern. Before visiting the Russian Federation he met in Germany Thomas Enders, one of the bosses of
Europe's major aerospace companies, EADS, and discussed with him the possibility of Kazakhstan being supplied with
new-type radars to upgrade its air defence system.
Moscow viewed this step as the Kazakh president's pointedly ignoring Russia's grievances and scaled down Mr
Nazarbayev's visit, reducing it to just a few hours.
Kazakh deal with BAE Systems
But this failed to have the effect that Moscow wanted. Kommersant has learned that a few days ago Astana signed a
1-bn dollar contract with Britain's BAE Systems to update its air defence system, and has even paid the first
tranche.
BAE Systems designs and manufacturers warplanes, submarines, space and electronic systems, and radar. Annual
production stands at around 12 billion pounds (22bn dollars). In Kazakhstan it has a controlling stake in Air Astana,
which is gradually ousting the national carrier - Air Kazakhstan - from the local market.
"Sharply negative reaction from Moscow"
Kazakhstan's conclusion of the contract provoked a sharply negative reaction from Moscow. According to
Kommersant's information, the Kremlin has already conveyed its extreme displeasure to the Kazakh leadership at
Astana's unwillingness to heed its partner's insistent recommendations - especially since the saga surrounding
the modernization of the air defence system is by no means the first example of this kind.
Kazakhstan "stepping up cooperation" with West
Of late Kazakhstan has been stepping up cooperation with Western countries in the Caspian in developing naval bases
there. Astana intends also to join in the construction of the US-lobbied Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. And within
the country the Kazakh authorities are pursuing a policy of forcing the Russian language out of various areas. And even
the country's principal opposition force - Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan - is being accused of a
"pro-Russian orientation": This party favours boosting the role of the Russian language in Kazakhstan and its
leader Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, who is in jail, has publicly advocated maximum rapprochement with Russia to counterbalance
Mr Nazarbayev's proclaimed "multivectoral approach" in Kazakh foreign policy.
Russian doubts over "sincerity of Astana's assurances"
President Nazarbayev's eloquent gestures towards the West are due to Astana's misgivings that the USA will
try to repeat the "Georgian scenario" for regime change in Kazakhstan. However, the shift towards the West
will not produce the desired effect for Mr Nazarbayev, as illustrated by the increase in pressure on him from the USA
and the EU. On the other hand, Russia does have doubts about the sincerity of Astana's assurances of its desire to
develop strategic partnership relations with Moscow.
[Kommersant] |
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