CIS ministers mull axing Kyrgyz-phase of joint drills – Tajik source

Avesta web site
25 Mar 05

Dushanbe, 25 March: The first phase of the Rubezh-2005 exercises
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO; members are
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan],
which is planned in Kyrgyzstan, probably will not be held.

A source at the Tajik Defence Ministry has told Avesta that this
issue is currently being discussed by the defence ministers of the
CSTO state members. The source said there were no changes made to
the second phase [of the drills], which was planned in Tajikistan.

The exercises are scheduled to be held from 29 March to 6 April on
the territory of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The exercises will work
out issues relating to drafting and implementing joint decisions
on the use and management of forces and means of the collective
security system during a joint operation to protect the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Central Asian countries.