DUSHANBE, March 10, 2009, Asia-Plus — Member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are expected to organize a joint exposition at the fifth international exhibition of arms and military equipment, MILES 2009, according to the CSTO press service.
The exhibition will be held at the exhibition complex, Belexpocenter, in Minsk, Belarus from May 19-22, 2009.
The following product groups will be put on display at the exhibition: armored vehicles; rocket, artillery and small arms; air-defense system of small and medium-range; high-tech equipment and systems; ground equipment and facilities; optical-electronic equipment and systems; techniques and tools for radiation, chemical and biological protection; technical tools and systems for troops; information system and information security; vehicles: cars, trucks; aviation and space-rocket complexes; flight and navigation systems and automatic control systems; technology and dual-use technologies; traffic, construction and load-lifting means and mechanisms; modernization and repair of military equipment and weapons; equipment and technology utilization weapons, military equipment and munitions; military universities and training centers; safety equipment to deal with emergencies and disasters, equipment and fire; military medicine; the military and scientific research base; uniforms, clothing and special equipment; individual bullet-proof equipment; and etc.
The purpose of the exhibition is in demonstrating samples of products of defense enterprises and enterprises manufacturing dual-use technologies. A number of contracts are expected to be concluded on sidelines of the exhibition, the press service said.
139 enterprises participated at the previous fourth international exhibition of arms and military equipment. More than 20,000 persons, including 7,000 specialists working in the defense industry, visited the fourth exhibition.
The MILEX exhibition has been held in Belarus since 2001.
The regional security organization was initially formed in 1992 for a five-year period by the members of the CIS Collective Security Treaty (CST) — Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which were joined by Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Belarus the following year. A 1994 treaty reaffirmed the desire of all participating states to abstain from the use or threat of force, and prevented signatories from joining any other military alliances or other groups of states” directed against members states. The CST was then extended for another five-year term in April 1999, and was signed by the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. In October 2002, the group was renamed as the CSTO. Uzbekistan joined the Organization in 2006
