The 75th meeting of the CIS Council of Defense Ministers, presided over by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, took place in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on October 12. The meeting participants reportedly agreed on the fight against international terrorism and defined directions of development of joint military systems.
Russian media reports say delegations of defense ministries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in the event,
According to TASS, the ministers discussed the issues of multilateral cooperation in the sphere of security and defense. The parties also exchanged views on the situation in the Asia-Pacific Region, and priority goals for combating international terrorism.
Citing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, TASS reports the meeting members confirmed that cooperation has a perspective for sustainable development. “More than 50 different joint events are planned to be held next year,” Shoigu was quoted by TASS as saying.
The situation in the Central Asian region were assessed and necessary measures were taken to combat international terrorism within the framework of the meeting, Shoigu said, noting that the members of the Council signed resolutions in the field of military aviation flights, topo-geodesic, meteorological and information security of the armed forces.
Tajikistan was represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Defense Minister, Colonel-General Sherali Mirzo.
Established in 1992, the Council of Ministers of Defense consists of representatives from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is vested with the task of coordinating military cooperation of the CIS member states. To this end, the Council develops conceptual approaches to the questions of military and defense policy of the CIS member states; develops proposals aimed to prevent armed conflicts on the territory of the member states or with their participation; gives expert opinions on draft treaties and agreements related to the questions of defense and military developments; issues related suggestions and proposals to the attention of the CIS Council of the Heads of State. Also important is the Council’s work on approximation of the legal acts in the area of defense and military development.
