CSTO considers creation of joint military force in Central Asia

BISHKEK, February 16 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyz Defense Minister Abibila
Kudaiberdiyev and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
Secretary-General Nikolai Bordyuzha on Wednesday discussed creation of a joint military group to strengthen collective security in Central Asia, the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry's press service told Itar-Tass.
Bordyuzha arrived in Kyrgyzstan on a three-day visit to discuss with the country's leaders military-technical cooperation and ways of
strengthening regional security.
He said the group would comprise not only the Collective Rapid
Reaction Force, but also "national military units." In addition, he
believes that within the framework of the Joint Air Defense System "it is time to give thought to forming the coalition's air defense group with headquarters in one of the region's countries."
The press service said, "Kudaiberdiyev and Bordyzha discussed the main results of military-technical cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and other CSTO countries."
"The sides have discussed prospects for further interaction within the framework of the CSTO," the press service said.
Bordyuzha proposed "radical changes to the format of bilateral
military relations due to the transition of the Russian armed forces from the military districts-based structure to joint strategic commands."
"The legal base for this process has been created and now there is an opportunity to get down to joint actions by military forces," he said.
Bordyuzha invited the Kyrgyz side to discuss one more innovation --that of setting up a committee of chiefs of general staffs of the CSTO armed forces.