Baku, Azerbaijan, June 7
By Elena Kosolapova – Trend:
Russia equips its military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with the latest weapons to prevent the transfer of terrorist activity from Afghanistan to the Central Asia, RIA Novosti News Agency quoted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.
"Russian Defense Ministry is taking measures to prevent the transfer of terrorist activity from Afghanistan to the Central Asian region. We increase the combat readiness of Russian military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and equip them with modern weapons and military equipment for this purpose," Shoigu said at a meeting of Defense Ministers of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the city of Astana on June 7.
According to Shoigu, Russia as well provides assistance to the armed forces of the Central Asian states and pays great attention to increasing their combat capabilities. He went on to add that Russia regularly holds joint military drills with the Central Asian countries.
He informed that in September it is planned to hold military anti-terrorist exercises of the member states of The Collective Security Treaty Organization.
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