DUSHANBE, June 5, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tajik Minister of Defense Sherali Mirzo met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu here on June 4 on the sidelines of a session of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member nations.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergey Shoygu noted during the meeting that Russia and Tajikistan have extensive plans in military field and some of them will be corrected.
“We have extensive plans which had been approved by presidents of two countries. Today we will talk upon plan implementation, future prospects of our relationship,” Shoygu said.
The Russian defense minister reportedly said that some of the plans will be corrected according to results of previous exercises and inspections.
Shoygu said that security in Central Asia largely depends on concerted action by the armed forces of Russia and Tajikistan.
Therefore, the Russian defense minister pointed to the necessity of paying special attention to “enhancing the combat capabilities of Tajikistan’s armed forces and the Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan.”
“In the context of the international coalition’s pullout from Afghanistan our armed forces must be prepared for any march of events, including the most unfavorable one,” he said.
“Joint operative and combat training exercises are held every year. Our troops participate in joint exercises by the Collective Security Treaty Organization and Shanghai Cooperation Organization member-states,” he said, noting that sudden inspection of the CSTO rapid reaction contingents, held in Tajikistan in May, received a high rating.
“Our units have demonstrated a high degree of combat readiness and ability to cope with the set tasks,” Shoygu said.
Meanwhile, Russian news agency
TASS
reports that Shoygu said that the Russian Defense Ministry regards interaction with Tajikistan in the military and military-technical spheres as a “major factor for preserving regional stability.” He reportedly recalled that military personnel were being trained at Russia’s military academies on a disinterested basis.
“This year we have welcomed 150 cadets. In all, 482 Tajik military servicemen undergo training in Russia at the moment. Besides, on the premises of the 201st Russian military base we started training junior specialists. We are determined to go ahead with support for Tajikistan in maintaining its security,” Shoygu said.
