CSTO summit prepares documents on rapid-reaction force

13:1714/06/2009

MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti) – Foreign ministers from member states of
the CSTO, a post-Soviet security bloc, prepared at their meeting on
Sunday documents for creating a joint rapid-reaction force.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization comprising Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, is
currently holding its summit in Moscow, which includes a meeting of the
CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers.

"The main result of today’s session of the CSTO Council of Foreign
Ministers was the fulfillment of instructions from the February CSTO
summit on the creation of a rapid-reaction force. The package of
documents is ready. They include an agreement on the rapid-reaction
force, and documents regulating the deployment and the strength of the
collective forces," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Russia already has joint military contingents with Belarus and Armenia
through the CSTO.

The new force will comprise large military units from five countries –
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Analysts say the creation of a powerful military contingent in Central
Asia reflects Moscow’s drive to make the CSTO a pro-Russian military
bloc, rivaling NATO forces in Europe.

Russia’s security strategy until 2020, recently approved by President
Dmitry Medvedev, envisions the CSTO as "a key mechanism to counter
regional military challenges and threats."

The rapid-reaction force will include an airborne division and an air
assault brigade from Russia, and an air assault brigade from
Kazakhstan. The other members will contribute a battalion-size force
each, although Uzbekistan would "delegate" its detachments to take part
in operations on an ad hoc basis.