CSTO Defense Ministers stand against U.S. anti-missile defense shield in EuropeSeptember 28, 2007 - 17:10 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was held in Bishkek September 28. "CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov as well as Defense Ministers of Kirghizia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia attended the meeting. The participants discussed the U.S. plans to mount anti-missile assets in Eastern Europe," reads a statement issued by United Russia party."Deployment of any forces represents a menace. Violation of balance of forces in the region can have unforeseeable consequences. The states where the assets are mounted will assume the greatest risk. That is why decisions should be taken in compliance with the international agreements and opinion of neighbor states, including the CSTO," said Leonid Maltsev, the Belarusian Minister of Defense. Upon completion of the meeting CSTO Sec. Gen. handed jubilee orders "CSTO is 15 years old" to the Defense Ministers. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |