MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to increase the combat potential of its air base in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Defense Minister Army Gen. Sergei Shoigu said.
"We are planning a gradual increase of the combat potential of the Russian air base in Kant," the Russian minister said at talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Taalaibek Omuraliyev in Moscow on Tuesday.
"We are attaching great importance to the joint planning of use of the Kyrgyz Republic Armed Forces and the joint Russian military base troops," Shoigu said.
"I believe these efforts will enable us to create a reliable defense potential capable to counter the challenges and threats to our states' security," the Russian defense minister said.
In 2013, Russia and Kyrgyzstan closely cooperated both bilaterally and within the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) and the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), he said.
"Cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic, including in the military sphere, has been traditionally seen as a priority," the Russian minister said.
In recent years the two countries' defense ministries have managed to prepare a good foundation for successful, mutually beneficial cooperation, Shoigu said. "We are planning to continue paying utmost the attention to these issues," the Russian defense minister said.