Putin Comes Out for Effective Cooperation in Combating Terrorism And Drug Threat

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) may effectively cooperate with organizations like the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in solving common problems in the struggle against terrorism and averting the drug threat. Russia's President Vladimir Putin made this statement after the closure of a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

"We shall do everything to make the work of the Collective Security Treaty effective," he stressed.

In this connection, the Russian President said the decisions had been taken on setting up a Joint Staff and on enhancement of the rapid deployment forces.

Earlier, at its summit in Dushanbe, the CSTO leaders announced their decision to set up a Joint Staff of the collective rapid deployment forces and to deploy their aviation component.

It has been officially decided to open an air base in July, at which the aviation component will be stationed, President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akayev told reporters.