CSTO Defense Ministers meet in Armenia

CSTO Defense Ministers meet in Armenia

armradio.am
28.11.2008 17:33

The sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the member states of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) took place in
Yerevan today. The participants signed an agreement on bilateral
cooperation.

According to the Defense Minister of the Russian Federation, Anatoly
Serdyukov, the document will provide an opportunity to raise the level
of military preparation of the member states.

The issue of creating a `Common anti-aircraft defense system’ was
discussed. It has been raised many times, but has remained unsettled.
The Russian Federation wants the `Common anti-aircraft defense system’
to be in Russia. Perhaps this is the reason why the issue has not yet
been solved. The question has long been on the CSTO agenda.

The Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, informed that during
today’s sitting the Defense Ministers came to the conclusion to
instruct the coordinating committee to discuss a number of issues,
which are peculiar to every region to be able to make a decision later.’

During the meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers in Helsinki on
December 4 the participants will discuss Russia’s new initiative of
preparing a new security agreement of Europe.

Secertary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
Nikolay Bordyuzha informed that the CSTO member states have approved
this
initiative of the Russian President: `High level consultations
were held recently on the initiative of preparing a new security
agreement in Europe. All Russia’s partners, the CSTO member states have
approved the idea and agreed to work together to develop it.’