COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION TO HOLD MILITARY SPECIALIST CONFERENCES
by Denis Telmanov, Karine Ter-Saakian

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 3, 2008 Wednesday
Russia

COMMON TRAINING PLANS FOR CIS COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION;
CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization defense ministers gathered
in Armenia on November 28. The ministers approved a list of joint
events in operations and combat training for 2010-14, and set out
the basic objectives in this area.

CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) defense ministers
have met for the first time since the Trans-Caucasus conflict. The
meeting was held in Yerevan, Armenia, on November 28. The ministers
approved a list of joint events in operations and combat training
for 2010-14, and set out the basic objectives in this area.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced that the Border
maneuvers – CSTO joint command-staff exercises – will be hosted
by each CSTO country in turn, every two years. This year’s Border
exercises were held between March and August, first in Moscow, then
at a training range near Yerevan.

CSTO Press Secretary Vitali Strugovets told us that the CSTO has
decided to hold a series of conferences with various specialists. These
will include field officers (unit commanders, air targeting
specialists, firepower specialists) and staff officers. These events
should confirm a common approach to military training and fine-tune
coordination of joint efforts in the staff and in the field.

Serdyukov said: "Joint operations and combat training is one of the
main fields of activity for CSTO member states. The Border exercises
will alternate with events held on a bilateral basis. I believe this
will offer a real opportunity to improve combat readiness of our
armed forces and reinforce the CSTO’s collective security system."

CSTO Secretary-General Nikolai Bordyuzha told a press conference
that CSTO member states have expressed support for Russia’s proposal
regarding a new European security treaty.