CIS Begins Joint Command, Staff Exercise in MoscowThe Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Monday launched a joint command and staff exercise coded "Commonwealth Southern Shield-2001" in Moscow to practice joint operations to destroy terrorists in Central Asia.The purpose of the exercise is to improve the work of the joint CIS commands, power bodies and members of the CIS Collective Security Treaty, as well as the combat capabilities of CIS rapid reaction forces within the Coordination Staff, said the press service of the maneuver staff. The participants will simulate a joint campaign of eliminating illegal militants in Central Asia and "work out proposals on the provision of military-technical assistance to a warring state," said the press service. The exercise that will end Friday involves Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Ukraine are attending as observers. |
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