Hefty funds to be spent on CIS air defense system in 2013
By Sabina Idayatova
500 million rubles (roughly $16 million) will be allocated for the development of the CIS air defense system in 2013, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the Council of CIS Defense Ministers meeting held Tuesday in Moscow, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
The meeting was attended by the defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine, as well as Uzbekistan's deputy minister of defense.
Participants confirmed their commitment to the development of military cooperation considering 26 pertinent issues, Shoigu told journalists, RIA Novosti said.
"We confirmed interest in the development of defense
cooperation, based on the balance of general, regional and national
interests," he added.
According to Shoigu, participants summed up the activities of the
working bodies of the Council in 2012 and confirmed the plan for
next year.
"We reviewed the plan of collective activities of the CIS joint air
defense system in 2013 and discussed the allocation of funds for
its development in 2014," Shoigu said.
Shoigu also said the plan of the interaction forces of a joint monitoring system and evaluation of radiation, chemical and biological conditions has been approved, and participants discussed conduct of joint activities of the engineering corps, repair of facilities and training of personnel.
Shoigu was elected chairman of the CIS Defense Ministers Council by suggestion of Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev. The other counterparts supported the decision as well.
According to Minister Abiyev, Azerbaijan considers it impossible to participate in some military cooperation activities between the CIS countries, Azerbaijani news website day.az reported.
"Azerbaijan participates in most of CIS [activities], while it does not participate in some others, considering this impossible and impractical," Abiyev said.
"Azerbaijan at the same time will participate at CIS events not only in the format of defense ministers in the future," he added.
Azerbaijan has been locked in conflict with Armenia for over two decades, therefore, it cannot participate in joint military exercises with the armed forces of Armenia, which is also a member of the CIS.
Since a brutal war in the early 1990s, Armenia has occupied part of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory.