CSTO defense ministers to meet Aug. 21 in Armenia

CSTO is a post-Soviet security grouping, which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

"After the meeting the ministers will attend the final stage of the Rubezh-2008 joint command-and-staff exercise held in Armenia," Col. Seiran Shakhsuvaryan said.

About 4,000 troops from Armenia, Russia and Tajikistan will take part in the four-stage Rubezh-2008 military exercise on territory of Armenia and Russia this Summer/Fall.

Other CSTO members will be represented by military staff from respective defense ministries.
Russia, Belarus and ex-Soviet Central Asian republics have already developed common air defense and communications networks, and are continuing to work on other joint defense networks, RIA Novosti reported.