DUSHANBE, August 13, 2008, Asia-Plus — A decision on the establishment of unified air-defense system within the CIS area made in February 1995 has demonstrated its vitality, Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev remarked at the session of the coordinating committee for air defense within the CIS council of defense ministers in Dushanbe on August 12, 2008.
According to him, the unified air-defense system could be considered as the only really existing unified defense system within the CIS area.
Khairulloyev assessed inclusion of the modernized antiaircraft-missile unit Pechora-2M” on combat duty within the CIS unified air-defense system group as a positive factor for Tajikistan.
The two-day session hosted by Dushanbe is considering issues related to summing up the activity of the Committee in the first half-year of 2008 and discussing the plan of joint actions to develop the CIS unified air defense system for 2009.
The agenda also includes consideration of the regulations on the regional command, optimization of the structure and combat membership of the regional air defense system and other issues.
The session is concluding today.
The coordinating committee for air defense under the CIS council of defense ministers was set up in 1995 to coordinate the effort to develop the unified air defense of the Commonwealth. It comprises the commanders of the air defense troops (air defense and air forces) of the CIS countries. The chairman of the committee is commander-in-chief of Russia’s Air Force, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin.
