The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, on Wednesday ratified an agreement establishing a rapid reaction force for the regional security group.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization's (CSTO) rapid reaction force is designed to improve the security of the CSTO member states against existing and potential threats, including terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and natural disasters, and to enhance the organization's role in ensuring international security.
The CSTO is comprised of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status.
The Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) staged a two-week military exercise in southern Kazakhstan in October 2009 with more than 7,000 troops from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan taking part.
MOSCOW, December 8 (RIA Novosti)
