ASHGABAT, December 5 (RIA Novosti) - The leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose association of post-Soviet nations, have reaffirmed their resolve to intensify their joint counterterrorism training programs, the Russian presidential spokesman said on Wednesday.
“They also reaffirmed their readiness… to intensify cooperation in logistical and technical support for [counterterrorism] units,” Dmitry Peskov said on the sidelines of a CIS heads of state meeting.
“Terrorism” in official Russian politics is used loosely and in preference to more neutral terms such as “insurgency.” It is often applied to militants fighting government forces in Russia's North Caucasus region.
The CIS heads of state also discussed cooperation in countering drug trafficking, extremism, separatism and transborder organized crime, as well as defense cooperation, Peskov said.
“They addressed prospects for the development of a CIS integrated air defense system,” he said.
The CIS currently comprises nine member states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
