MOSCOW, July 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and its partners from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will jointly carry out military exercises in Central Asia for the neutralization of extremism, Central Military District representative Colonel Yaroslav Roshupkin said Thursday.
“In one of the regions, the reconnaissance unit detected international extremist organizations attempting to intimidate and enlist locals, and store ammunition, arms and drugs in warehouses. Command has made the decision to block and destroy the extremists by using artillery and air force,” the colonel said describing the exercises.
The “Rubezh-2014” operation started this Monday as part of the large-scale exercises under the aegis of CSTO and the supervision of specialists from Armenia and Belarus. The military exercises finish on Friday.
The colonel added that CSTO partners positively perceived the military exercises, as the Central Asian region has always been unstable and unsecure.
“For the past 15 years, our country has had to face challenges and threats, which significantly aggravates the situation in the region,” said Alexandre Kim, assistant to the secretary of defense of Kyrgyzstan.
CSTO was established on May 15, 1992 in Tashkent by the leaders of six countries: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Later Azerbaijan, Georgia and Belarus joined the treaty. The organization’s goals include developing political and military cooperation as well as counteracting international terrorism, and the trafficking of drugs and weapons.
