CIS Defence Ministers Talk Anti-Terrorism And Military Co-Operation

A session of the Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States Defence Ministers is being held in Moscow today. The meeting is dedicated to issues concerning increased anti-terrorism efforts and military-technical co-operation. When opening the session, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said that "thanks to the creation of the CIS, we can preserve stability." The minister stressed that the council's multi-lateral co-operation had made a great contribution to bolstering stability in the Commonwealth. According to him, a CIS unified air defence system is being rapidly developed, while military and operative preparations of the armed forces and command units are being completed. He also pointed to the fact that much had been done to organise efforts to combat international terrorism, and expand military-technical co-operation and information exchanges. The defence ministers from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kirghizstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Ukraine are taking part in the session, as well as representatives from Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is not taking part in the session.