http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20090603/155158036.html
CSTO to hold large-scale joint military drills in Aug.-Sept.
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.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
