CIS unified air defence system also fights terrorism – Russian minister

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
24 Jun 05

DUSHANBE

Some 70 per cent of all the expenditure of the Council of Defence
Ministers of CIS member states is annually allocated for the
improvement and development of the unified air defence system of the
CIS. This was announced today by Russian Defence Minister Sergey
Ivanov after a session of the CIS Council of Defence Ministers.

The minister particularly stressed that “the unified air defence
system should not be understood in the utilitarian sense, as it not
only ensures air defence but also makes it possible to tackle
antiterrorist tasks and support the aviation of the Commonwealth in
the event of unscheduled and emergency situations”.

Development of the unified air defence system of the Commonwealth was
at the centre of attention at the session of the CIS Council of
Defence Ministers, which was held in the capital of Tajikistan. In
particular, the main directions for the development of the unified air
defence system of the CIS for the years 2006-2010 were discussed.

Ivanov told journalists that the first stage of the Combat
Commonwealth-2005 joint exercises of CIS air defence forces began
today at the Russian military range at Telmba (in Chita Region).

“The council approved the concept of the exercises, according to which
its participants practise jointly using national air defence forces
and means in the collective security regions in Eastern Europe, the
Caucasus and Central Asia,” the minister noted.

The first stage will continue until 10 July with the participation of
large units and units of the air force and air defence of the Baltic
Fleet and of the air defence forces of Belarus. “The second stage,” –
the minister continued, “will take place from 5 to 12 August at the
Kazakh military range at Sary-Shagan. Its participants will be large
units and units of air defence forces of Kazakhstan and of air defence
troops of Kyrgyzstan”.

The third stage of the exercises will take place from 22 to 31 August
(the active phase – live firing – on 30 August) at the Russian
military range at Ashuluk (Astrakhan Region). “During this stage
multilateral combat cooperation will be practised by the Armenian air
defence troops, the Belarusian air force and air defence troops, the
Russian air force and the Tajik air defence troops. Representatives
of air defence forces of Kazakhstan will take part as observers,”
Sergey Ivanov noted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress