Collective forces could theoretically be used on CSTO area - Russia's envoy
- Written by Interfax
MOSCOW, Nov 25 (Interfax). The Collective Operational Response Force (CORF) can be used in a certain situation if a threat emerges on the area of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russia's envoy to the CSTO Igor Lyakin-Frolov said.
"In theory, the agreement on CORF does not envision that these forces will be used exactly for this purpose, although situations may be different, and if there is a threat to stability of a particular country or a group of CSTO member-states, various options could be considered," Lyakin-Frolov told Interfax when asked whether CORF could be used in a situation of instability within the CSTO area of responsibility to eliminate unrest or riots within in its member-states.
"At the same time, I would like to stress that CORF could be used, first, based on a consensus, and second, only in response to a request by legal authorities of this or that state," he said.
"If we talk about CORF in general, these forces comprise not only armed forces but also special FSB [Federal Security Service], Interior Ministry and Emergency Situations Ministry units. It has also been proposed lately that anti-drug services of some countries be attached to them, so that they could be used in combating the drug inflow from Afghanistan," he said.
