CSTO SHOULD HAVE MILITARY UNITS IN CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.02.2009 15:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The decision to form a rapid reaction force was
correct. The CSTO should have military units in Caucasus and Central
Asia, a Russian expert said.

"Deployment of CSTO collective force will allow strengthening security
of post-soviet states," Mikhail Alexandrov, head of Caucasus department
at the Institute of CIS Studies, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Commenting on the Kyrgyz leadership’s decision on withdrawal of
U.S. troops from the country, he emphasized that the base was
destabilizing the region.

"Kyrgyzstan invited Americans as guests but they wanted to settle
there forever, neglecting all warnings," he said. "Official Bishkek
demonstrated political will and took a tough decision."

On February 6, 2009 Kyrgyzstan announced decision to close Manas
U.S. base in its territory.