Sergey Ivanov expressed hopes that Russia will soon be able to begin the deliveries of arms and technology for internal Russian prices to its CSTO partners.
"A political decision taken and corresponding documents submitted at the Duma, I think they will be ratified in the near future," said Mr. Ivanov.
The Russian defense minister reported that Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia signed Friday a plan of joint exercises by the collective rapid-deployment force, to be held in late July and early August. These manoeuvres will pass two stages, in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with the use of combat units. "Russia will be represented by special forces to be airshipped as well as by combat planes to engage in real bombing," said the minister.
There are Collective forces in the Western strategic direction-Russia and Belarus, in the Southern direction-Russia and Armenia, and in the Central-Asian direction.
"Why not think of letting them perform peacekeeping assignments?" said the minister. "They can, if need be, stand up to aggression against CSTO countries and can perform peace-keeping functions," noted Sergei Ivanov.
He made it clear that since the CSTO is an international organization registered by the United Nations, these activities will be held under the UN aegis. According to Mr. Ivanov, Russian military units will play war games on an unfamiliar theatre.
Staging these exercises, the CSTO coalition forces will display resolve to give stiff rebuff to any attempts to destabilize the situation in this region, said the minister.
He reported that the CSTO heads of state authorized their defense ministers to ponder over a CSTO peacekeeping force concept.
The Russian federal budget for 2005 will provide for funds on training servicemen from the CSTO countries for cut fees or gratis. "I hope in a month all this will be law," said Sergei Ivanov without specifying the sums.
Asked by reporters in Astana, whether the CSTO summit session discussed today the return of Uzbekistan into the CSTO, Mr. Ivanov said that Uzbekistan would not be driven into the organization by force.
"On the other hand, if Uzbekistan is showing interest in cooperating with Russia on a bilateral basis, we shall not turn our back on it," said the Russian minister.
"Russia will build its relations with Uzbekistan so that it might be suitable for the latter," said Mr. Ivanov.
In 2005, Russia and Uzbekistan will stage joint military exercises.
"We plan next year major military manoeuvres with Uzbekistan with the involvement of aviation, helicopters and special forces at a picturesque mountainous training range not far from Samarkand," said Sergei Ivanov.
