CIS states are set to improve their joint air defence system

St. Petersburg, 16 October 2008, (Khabar) - The CIS states are set to improve their joint air defence system as a relating agreement was signed at the 55th scheduled meeting of the council of the CIS Defence Ministers in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

The document also stipulates the creation
of regional air defence units, the conducting of joint tactical exercises,
optimization as well as the battle line-up of the joint armed forces.
Participants in the meeting also discussed the issues of fighting
international terrorism, the prospects of military and technical cooperation
as well as the modernization of weapons and military equipment. The meeting
in Saint Petersburg featured representatives of the Defence ministries of
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldavia, Russia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. As part of the sitting,
the sides are expected to pay a visit to the Leningrad Military District.
According to the Russian Minister for Defence, Anatoliy Serdyukov,
Kazakhstan and Russia are the main strategic allies as close to 70
agreements which are being gradually implemented, have been signed by the
two countries so far. In particular, roughly one thousand cadets are
studying in Russian military academies.

Anatoliy Serdyukov, Minister for Defence of Russia:
- As you know, over the past two years, cooperation between our Ministries
of Defence has significantly increased and it is very productive and stable.
We hold joint military tactical exercises in Kazakhstan and Russia. At the
previous meeting with the Minister for Defence of Kazakhstan, we agreed that
we will be extending such training to involve other countries.