Interfax, Russia
Aug 14 2008

Russia to allocate over 20 million rubles for modernization of CIS
missile defense system

DUSHANBE Aug 14

Russia will allocate over 20 million rubles for the modernization of
the combined CIS missile defense system in 2008, Sergei Bulkin, a
representative of the secretariat of the CIS Council of Ministers,
said at a meeting of the Council of Ministers’ coordination committee
on ABM (Anti Ballistic Missile) issues in Dushanbe on Wednesday.

"Every year, Tajikistan and other CIS countries receive funds for
modernization of their ABM systems. This year, Tajikistan has received
4 million rubles for this purpose," said Bulkin.

An estimated 21.5 million rubles will be allocated for the development
of the CIS ABM system this year, not taking into account Russia,
Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan.

Belarus will receive 4.3 million rubles for the repair and
modernization of its air defense missile systems, Armenia will receive
3.5 million rubles for modernization of its radar stations, and
Kazakhstan will get 3.1 million rubles for parts for C-200 air defense
missile systems.

The coordination committee is also considering the possibility of
supplying Kazakhstan with equipment for the regional command point and
the headquarters of the combined CIS missile defense system in central
Asia.

In addition, Uzbekistan will probably receive 6.6 million rubles to
buy parts for its missile defense systems.