WAR AND PEACE IN TEMS AND DEFINITIONS
Dmitry Loskutov
Concept: The world without arms is an illusion but ideally the arms have to perform their task so that they will never have to be used
Concept of the “arms trade” is presented by the author who has a wide experience in diplomacy accompanying the international cooperation in the war-industrial sphere and of some concrete projects of collaboration between Russia and NATO.
War and peace are two interconnected notions. This, according to the author, has been proved in the course of centuries and the conditions of the global world are no exclusion from this rule. The idea of arms-trade for peace-keeping is of course an arguable one. But ideally arms have to perform their function so that they should not be used. World’s evolution proves that the world without arms is an illusion. Thus an ancient saying holds true: “Who wants peace must prepare for war”.
It is evident that politics and morals, says the author, do not conform too well. The paradox of the today’s situation in respect to the understanding of the security questions in the Euro-Atlantic domain is but aggravated when one analyses statements of certain politicians. In these conditions the uniformed rules for all sphere of international life must take effect – the norms of the international law, the juridically obligatory formulations. The dialogue between the Russian military and the NATO is essential (not to mention the political dialogue) and in time it can fully change the paradigm of our perception of each other. Russia of course has to do its “homework”, but besides the “crises of trust” should be overcome within the alliance itself.