Kyrgyz president hails cooperation within CIS security body

Interfax news agency, Moscow
5 Aug 04

Cholpon Ata, 5 August: Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev is satisfied with the
level of military cooperation within the CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO).

“Servicemen implement adopted decisions very quickly in contrast to us,
civilians,” Akayev said during a meeting with the defence ministers of CSTO member
states in Cholpon Ata today.

“The Collective Rapid Deployment Forces were set up in the region within a
short time. It became possible to create a powerful bastion such as Kant (the
Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan -Interfax-Kazakhstan) within a short period of
time,” the president said.

Commenting on the Rubezh-2004 coalition exercises taking place in Kyrgyzstan,
Akayev emphasized that these manoeuvres were of a large-scale nature. “These
are large-scale exercises, involving aircraft,” he said.

The president said: “The participation of the assault helicopter Black Shark
in them is adding special colour to the manoeuvres.”

He expressed his confidence that “the exercises will be successful since all
problems connected with their preparation have been settled”.

An Interfax-AVN news agency correspondent reports that Akayev met the defence
ministers of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and the
chief of staff of the Armenian armed forces.

The final phase of the Rubezh-2004 exercises will be held at the Kyrgyz
firing range Edelveys Edelweiss on 6 August.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress