The Rubezh-2004 will to replace the earlier planned CIS command-and-staff drill Commonwealth Southern Shield-2004, which was to be held in Kazakhstan in April.
"The proposal to hold the joint exercise Rubezh-2004 has been approved by the defence ministers of the CIS and CSO member-states. The upcoming expanded-format joint exercise will even further promote trust in the ensurance of collective security on the regional level and within the framework of these international organisations", general Zavgorodny said.
He noted that organisational questions of the joint exercise will be discussed at a session of the joint chiefs of staff committee of the armed forces of the CIS and CSO member-states, due to be held in Moscow on March 16.