CIS Defence Ministers Discuss Coordinating Collaboration

The meeting of the Council of the Defence Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has come to a close in Moscow on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the coordination of military and technical collaboration and informational issues, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, who presided at the meeting, told journalists. In all, the meeting participants considered 24 issues, he said. According to Ivanov, the ministers discussed the improvement of the CIS United Air Defence System - which is "the most advanced aspect of the Commonwealth". In the Russian Minister's appraisal, "this system has been already working successfully but we've outlined certain steps to make it more effective." "Great attention was paid to combating terrorism and coordinating efforts by the Council of Defence Ministers, the Council of the Special Services' Cheifs and the Council of Foreign Ministers," Ivanov stated. In addition, some proposals were made in order to create a common legal anti-terrorist basis, he said. The Russian Defence Minister said that the meeting of the Council of the CIS Defence Ministers was a success adding that the next meeting will be held in Moscow in late February 2002 "when we mark the 10th anniversary of this working CIS body".