Russian Defense Minister Urges CIS to Expand Counter-Terrorist Cooperation

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Wednesday called on the Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS) members to expand anti-terrorist cooperation.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Shoigu was addressing the regular 71st session of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers, which takes place in Moscow.

CIS is a regional organization formed by former Soviet Union members in the 1990s. The organization aims to promote economic, political and cultural cooperation.

"The threat posed by terrorism may be countered only together, through expansion of our cooperation in the sphere of defense and security." 

Shoigu noted that the strategy of work in CIS format was aimed at effective response to the present-day challenges and threats, primarily, of terrorism.

"Our sovereign states have been cooperating in the military sphere for a quarter of a century on a wide range of issues. Today's session of the Council is an important mutual step to enhance the security of our countries."