BAKU. Oct 30 (Interfax) - The decisions made at the 77th meeting of the CIS Council of Defense Ministers in Baku aim to bolster national armies and common security, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"Allow me to say in conclusion that the decisions made by this Council are meant to strengthen the combat capabilities of our armies. More than 20 practical aspects of defense and military security cooperation have been addressed at the meeting," Shoigu said.
For instance, the sides approved a draft of the cooperation concept for the period until 2025.
"This is a program document, which lays down prospects of military partnership between the CIS member states; this partnership is transparent and is not aimed against third countries," Shoigu said.
In addition, the ministers planned the development of the joint system of radiation, chemical, and biological protection in the period until 2025, specified ways of improving the joint air defense network in the coming year, and signed documents on cooperation in topographic, metrological, and information support, he said.
They "summed up results of the fifth International Army Games, the broadest competition of military professionals held in recent years, and analyzed the progress of training military personnel for the CIS member states," Shoigu said.
"Other decisions concerning the interaction between our armies and strengthening of their combat potential were made, too," he said.
"While discussing military-humanitarian cooperation, [the ministers] signaled the start of preparations for the 75th anniversary of the victory in WW II," Shoigu said.
"This jubilee is a pivotal, historic event. It will be celebrated with joint exercises, sport events, conferences, festivals, and patriotic events, which will boost the combat training and military-patriotic education of servicemen of our armies," he said.
"Results of the joint activity carried out in 2019 demonstrate the continuous and successful development of military cooperation between the CIS member states," Shoigu said.
"The meeting has reaffirmed this fact. I am grateful to everyone who has taken part in our work," Shoigu said and announced the meeting of the CIS Council of Defense Ministers closed.