Acting Kyrgyz defence minister, Russian envoy discuss military cooperation

Interfax news agency, Moscow
13 Apr 05

BISHKEK

The Russian ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Yevgeniy Shmagin, and Acting
Kyrgyz Defence Minister Ismail Isakov discussed Kyrgyz-Russian
cooperation on Wednesday [13 April].

“We intend to develop cooperation with Russia in future, too, within
the framework of obligations undertaken by the republic, expanding
them with new aspects of cooperation,” the acting Kyrgyz defence
minister has told journalists:

Speaking about priority areas in developing Kyrgyz-Russian military
cooperation, Isakov said that in many respects they were connected
with cooperation under the Collective Security Treaty Organization
[CSTO; members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Russia].

“Russia provides the republic with large military and technical aid
under this organization and on bilateral basis,” Isakov said. “We are
expecting the delivery of Russian military aircraft equipment and
component parts to repair firearms and spare parts.”

Another area of cooperation is making Kyrgyz territory available for
deploying Russian military facilities, the acting defence minister
said.

He said that he had held phone talks with Russian Defence Minister
Sergey Ivanov. “The Russian minister assured us that through the
Defence Ministry, Russia will provide the Kyrgyz armed forces with
necessary aid. We are grateful to the Russian side for such care,”
Isakov said.