Moscow News (Russia)
June 8, 2007
CIS AIR DEFENSE EXERCISE
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) – At least six former Soviet republicsare set to
begin a joint air defense exercise on June 20, a deputycommander of
Russia’s Air Force said Thursday.
The Combat Commonwealth-2007 exercise will involve Russia,Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and willbe held in
four stages.
"The first stage of the exercise will be held at the Telembatraining
ground East Siberia to engage Russian and Belarusian AirForce and Air
Defense troops as well as Russia’s Baltic Fleet,"Alexander
Drobyshevsky said.
The second stage will be held at the Ashuluk training groundin
Russia’s Astrakhan Region near the Caspian Sea, in the secondhalf of
August. It will involve Russian, Armenian, Belarusian andKyrgyz
forces.
The third and fourth stages will take place at Kazakh andUzbek
training grounds in August-September.
Conducted annually, such exercises are part of efforts tobuild an
integrated security system for the Commonwealth ofIndependent States
(CIS), a loose association of former Sovietrepublics. An integrated
air defense network was set up by 10CIS-member countries on February
10, 1995, but so far exists onlyon paper.