CSTO's rapid-reaction force to hold exercises in late summer

MOSCOW. May 7. KAZINFORM The joint rapid-reaction forces of a post-Soviet regional security bloc will hold military exercises in August-September in Kazakhstan, a Russian first deputy foreign minister announced on Thursday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Andrei Denisov said the development of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's rapid-reaction force was a topic of discussion at an ongoing meeting of CSTO deputy foreign, defense, and economics ministers at the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, agreed in early February to set up the rapid-reaction force. President Dmitry Medvedev earlier said that the force should be well-organized and equipped to counter a variety of threats; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See en.rian.ru for full version