European Security Pact: back on the agenda...

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev this week reaffirmed his commitment to the idea of a new European security pact.
 
He told an international security conference in the Russian city of Yaroslavl on Monday that the proposal is not directed against any nation, stating that any new agreement should help improve rapport among the European nations.
 
Medvedev first proposed the idea of a new security treaty including North America, Europe and parts of Asia last year.  Initially, the most enthusiastic supporter of the idea was President Sarkozy, who had already upset the White House by backing Medvedev in his condemnation of the proposed missile defence shield. Angela Merkel, who has a track record of cutting bi-lateral deals with the Kremlin, is also well disposed to the concept. The Bush administration completely ignored the idea, but although President Barack Obama has acknowledged the proposal, he has made no specific commitment as yet.
 
After the conference in Yaroslavl, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon held a private meeting with Medvedev.
 
Russia has made no secret of its concerns about NATO expansion, or about the prominent role of the alliance in European security policy. The new proposal might be seen in the context of a desire to neuter NATO, and also in order to gain a degree of influence over whatever EU defence policy may eventually develop. Russia is also traditionally hostile to the OSCE, being sceptical about that organisation's emphasis on human rights, as opposed to purely security issues. Indeed, Russia has effectively expelled the OSCE missions from the two breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
 
The Collective Security Treaty Organization - a Russian-led regional body that brings together Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - has backed the European concept, and may seek some degree of involvement.
 
It is particularly interesting that France, which is currently in negotiations to sell an aircraft carrier to Russia, should back a proposal that may undermine NATO, so soon after coming back into the alliance's command structure. In fact, France has recently pulled off a public relations coup with the appointment of a French general,  Stephane Abrial, to the office of Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. This appointment will enhance France's influence within NATO, although there is no suggestion that the move will be accompanied by any increase in military committment. In Afghanistan, for example, French representation is minimal, with just over 3,000 personnel being deployed.The French vision of an EU defence force may actually come to undermine NATO even more than the selling of military technology to Russia, and one might question the wisdom of allowing France to assume one of the five main command roles within the alliance.
 
This article was previously published at www.eureporter.co.uk