CIS Collective Rapid Forces Hold Exercise in KyrgyzstanThe Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) began a command-post exercise in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, according to reports reaching here from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.The main purpose of the Friendship 2001 exercise held under the CIS Collective Security Treaty is to train the collective forces to crush international terrorist groups in Central Asia, said Kyrgyz Defense Ministry spokesman Merbek Koilubayev. "Terrorism, extremism and separatism are creating an instability curve in the world," Kyrgyz Defense Minister Esen Topoyev said at the opening ceremony. The CIS leaders' efforts to create rapid-deployment forces in line with the Collective Security Treaty are of great significance to the security of the CIS and the world as a whole, he said. Topoyev stressed that the situation on the southern frontiers of the CIS is tranquil due to measures "taken by the Kyrgyz armed forces and the collective forces of the CIS." Commanding officers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan are taking part in the drill, which will end Friday. Uzbekistan has been invited to send observers to the exercise. The CIS Collective Security Treaty involves Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus and Tajikistan. |
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