MOLKINO (Krasnodar Territory), September 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's defense minister said Saturday that he was pleased with the Russian-Uzbek anti-terrorist exercise.
Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, said after the four-day exercise in the Krasnodar Territory in southern Russia that the actions of Russian and Uzbek troops were well coordinated and highlighted the professionalism of Uzbek servicemen.
Ivanov said the exercise was important, as "both Russia and Uzbekistan have been faced with terrorism and extremism in recent years."
He also said no international exercises would be held in the Krasnodar Territory in the near future, adding that "70% of enlisted positions in the country's largest [North Caucasus] military district would be filled by contract servicemen by the end of 2007."
