CSTO TO HOLD LARGE-SCALE JOINT MILITARY DRILLS IN AUG.-SEPT.
RIA Novosti
17:4203/06/2009
MOSCOW, June 3 (RIA Novosti) – The Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) will conduct joint military exercises in
August-September in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, the Belarusian
defense minister said on Wednesday.
The defense ministers of the post-Soviet security bloc comprising
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and
Tajikistan held a regular meeting in Moscow on June 3.
"The joint drills will be held in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
to practice the deployment of CSTO’s joint rapid-reaction force,"
Leonid Maltsev told reporters after the meeting.
He said the exercises in Belarus will also involve the Russia-Belarus
joint military grouping created within the framework of the CSTO.
According to media reports, Russia is planning to build a strong
military contingent in Central Asia within the CSTO comparable to
NATO forces in Europe.
The new force will comprise large military units from five countries –
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Russia already has joint military contingents with Belarus and Armenia
in as part of CSTO cooperation.
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