Military units from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, operational groups of the said countries' general staffs, representatives of the CSTO' charter and working bodies, and observers from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member-countries, are expected to participate. (The CSTO also involves Belarus and Armenia).
The exercise is designed to improve coordination between the command bodies in preparing for a joint operation to ensure stability in the Central Asian region of collective security, and improve the command of the combined forces during containing and destroying illegal armed groups, and enhance their combat readiness for fighting international terrorism.
The first phase will take place in Kazakhstan on August 2-4, during which the command bodies of the combined rapid deployment forces will train joint action for fulfilling combat missions.
On August 3-6, the exercise will be conducted in Kyrgyzstan, at the Edelveis mountainous site near the town of Balykchi. This phase will involve over 2,000 men. Heavy materiel, cannon and rocket-launching artillery, combat aircraft will be engaged in the second phase.
CSTO Secretary General Gennady Bordyuzha is expected to take part in the exercise. He will arrive in Astana, thge capital of Kazakhstan, on Monday. Mr Bordyuzha is also expected to meet the host country's security ministers to discuss issues related to the process of establishing a collective security system.
