Russian Defense Ministry Focuses on Cooperation Within CIS, SCO, CSTO - Official

The Chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff said that the Russian Defense Ministry was focused on cooperation with CIS, SCO, CSTO member states.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Defense Ministry's international efforts are focused on cooperation with other member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, First Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Valery Gerasimov said Thursday.

"The Russian Defense Ministry was focused on extension of cooperation with member countries of the CIS, the SCO and the CSTO. The priority was given to enhancing capabilities of the member countries to respond to various threats and crisis situations. Special attention was paid to the issue of countering terrorism," Gerasimov said at a meeting with foreign military attaches.

Elaboration of a joint air defense system of the CSTO members through the integration of national air defense systems of Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was ongoing, Gerasimov added.