Russia, Kyrgyzstan Plan Military Exercises In 2006

21 September 2005 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov says his country plans to hold joint antiterrorist military exercises with Kyrgyzstan next year.
Ivanov made the statement in Bishkek today after talks with Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ismail Isakov. Ivanov said the exercises were Isakov's idea.

Later today, Ivanov is due to travel to Tashkent for talks with Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev, Defense Minister Kadyr Gulomov, and National Security Service Chief Rustam Inoyatov.

On 23 September, Ivanov and Gulomov are due to observe the first-ever joint military exercises between Russian and Uzbek military forces without international supervision since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

(ITAR-TASS)