POST-SOVIET SECURITY BLOC COMPLETES JOINT ANTI-TERROR DRILLS
RIA Novosti
April 26
MOSCOW
Units from the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s rapid reaction
force have completed joint command-and-staff counter-terrorism
exercises in Tajikistan, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said
on Monday.
Over 1,000 servicemen, more than 150 pieces of military hardware, L-39
combat trainers, An-2 military transport planes and Mi-8 helicopters
from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan took part in the
Rubezh-2010 exercises, which started on April 22 at the Chorukh-Dairon
training range.
"The exercises were a success. The units have accomplished all the
set tasks," the official said.
The CSTO is a security grouping comprising the former Soviet republics
of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan,
and Tajikistan.
Five of the seven members signed an agreement on the creation of
the Collective Rapid Reaction Force in February 2009. Belarus, which
initially refrained from signing the deal because of a trade dispute
with Russia, joined it later last year.
Uzbekistan has so far refused to join the force, saying it opposes
stronger Russia’s role in Central Asia. Uzbekistan is also at odds
with regional neighbor Kyrgyzstan, which hosts a Russian airbase.
The CSTO members insist that the rapid reaction force is designed
to improve the security of the CSTO members against the backdrop
of existing and potential threats," including terrorism, extremism,
drug trafficking, natural disasters and to enhance the organization’s
role in ensuring international security.
However, many experts believe that the creation of a powerful
military contingent in former Soviet Central Asia by members of
the Russian-dominated security grouping is seen as Moscow’s bid to
counterbalance NATO.