DUSHANBE, June 28, Asia-Plus –– A June 27 meeting of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) council of defense ministers in the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek resulted in signing of a joint communiqué and an agreement on the joint anti-terror exercise Peace Mission-2007.
SCO member nations say the agreement on the joint anti-terror exercise became one of the important factors proving that the SCO member nations are stepping up their military cooperation. They, in particular, noted that the organization’s activities are not directed against any third countries.
The SCO defense ministers’ meeting in Bishkek discussed practical measures to fight terrorism and religious extremism.
The present situation in Afghanistan was also one of focuses of the meeting. Defense ministers of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan telling the meeting noted that they expect militants from the terrorist organizations such as the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) to renew their activities already from July.
Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev, in particular, said that the situation in Afghanistan is becoming more and more complicated. According to him, any lull in fighting is only because of the opium harvest.
The Tajik and Uzbek ministers pointed to the necessity of conducting joint exercises to rehearse cooperation and interaction in carrying out anti-terror operations.
Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan told a briefing following the meeting that all activities of the SCO have an open character and are not aimed against third countries.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries “oppose terrorism in any of its manifestations.” “The countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have a strict and clearly-cut position on the fight against terrorism. For our countries it is not hearsay what terrorism is and we clearly understand that terrorism becomes a common enemy of the whole world community.” “We do not consider the SCO to be a bloc opposing someone. This is an organization created to combat terrorism and nothing else,” Serdyukov said.
The SCO member nations are expected to hold the joint anti-terror exercise in Russia”s Chelyabinsk region in August. According to Gazeta.ru, the exercise will also involve special sub-units.
In the meantime, Russia’s RIA Novosti cited Russian defense minister as saying that the Kant air base in Kyrgyzstan is strategically important for Russia, and Moscow will continue to reinforce it. “We must solidify our positions here, as this is of key strategic importance. The presence of Russian troops here is crucial,” Anatoly Serdyukov said after visiting the base.
In light of the proposed deployment of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe and the continued expansion of NATO, Moscow has become increasingly concerned over NATO”s military presence close to its borders in Central Asia, a region historically within Russia”s sphere of influence.
The Russian base in Kant, about 20 miles west of the Kyrgyz capital, created in October 2003, currently deploys about 400 troops, including 250 officers and NCOs and 150 conscripts, as well as 20 combat and transport planes and helicopters, and L-39 trainers.
The defense minister said a priority task was to enlarge the landing strip at the base to allow landings of heavy transport planes.
The Russian Defense Ministry earlier said it planned to increase the number of servicemen and combat airplanes at the Kant base over the next two years.
