Russian defence minister urges allies to preserve unified military
training system

RIA news agency
17 Jan 05

MOSCOW

Russia intends to spare no effort to preserve the unified system of
military training both within the framework of the ODKB [Collective
Security Treaty Organization, comprising Russia, Belarus, Armenia,
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan] and with Kazakhstan in
particular, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov told journalists
after the Kazakh Dostyk order was presented to him.

“This award is an advance recognition of my modest contribution to the
cause of strengthening military cooperation between Russia and
Kazakhstan,” he said. According to the minister, he often meets his
Kazakh counterpart [Mukhtar Altynbayev] to discuss ways to step up
security.

Sergey Ivanov said an ODKB treaty under which prices for arms
deliveries are determined by Russia’s domestic prices came into force
in January 2005. “Russia will spare no efforts to ensure that the
unified system of military training is preserved,” Sergey Ivanov said.