MOSCOW, February 20 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin believes that only economic and diplomatic ways are not enough to counteract to the growth of conflicts near Russian borders.
In his article devoted to the problems of national security and published in the Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily on Monday, the prime minister recalled about the growth of regional and local conflicts, the emergence of zones of instability and “an artificially fuelled, controlled chaos.”
“Deliberate attempts are obvious to provoke such conflicts in the immediately proximity from the borders of Russia and our allies,” Putin noted. “We witness the basic principles of international law were devaluated and disrupted, particularly in international security,” he pointed out.
“In these conditions Russia cannot rely only on diplomatic and economic methods to lift disagreements and settle conflicts,” the premier remarked. “Our country is facing the task for the development of military potential as part of the deterrence strategy and at the level of defence sufficiency. The Armed Forces, security services and other power-wielding agencies should be ready for a quick and efficient response to new challenges,” he said.
“This is a compulsory condition for Russia to feel safely, and the arguments of the country will be taken by its partners in various international formats,” the premier indicated.
Putin noted that “jointly with our allies we also should build up the capabilities of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), including the Collective Rapid Response Forces.” “The CSTO is ready to fulfil its mission as a guarantor of stability in the Eurasian space,” the prime minister noted,
Thus, Putin concluded, “The issues to ensure the dynamic development of the Armed Forces, nuclear and space industry, the defence and industrial sector, military education, fundamental military science and applied research programs should remain the top priority of Russian state policy for years to come.”