By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose association of post-Soviet nations, have reaffirmed their resolve to intensify their joint counter-terrorism training programmes, the Russian presidential spokesman said.
“They also reaffirmed their readiness to intensify cooperation in logistical and technical support for (counter-terrorism) units,” Dmitry Peskov said on the sidelines of a CIS heads of state meeting.
“Terrorism” in official Russian politics is used loosely and in preference to more neutral terms such as “insurgency”. It is often applied to militants fighting government forces in Russia’s North Caucasus region.
The CIS heads of state also discussed cooperation in countering drug trafficking, extremism, separatism and trans-border organised crime, as well as defence cooperation, Peskov said.
“They addressed prospects for the development of a CIS integrated air defence system,” he said.
The CIS comprises nine member states — Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.