The Moscow Times, Russia
Feb 16 2009

Duma Ratifies Pact to Defend Neighbors

The State Duma ratified on Friday an accord that would oblige Russia
to provide troops and technical assistance to former Soviet states
belonging to the Collective Security Treaty Organization that face
outside aggression.

The document, which had been pending in the Duma since 2007, says the
security council of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty
Organization would have to decide whether to provide military support
to a country that applies for assistance.

The CSTO, founded in 2002, comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, CSTO members are working on a plan to build joint military
ventures. Russia and Armenia held talks Friday on a collective air
defense system similar to one that Russia agreed to set up with
Belarus earlier this month.