BISHKEK. July 9 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia is providing military-technical assistance to Kyrgyzstan in modernizing air defense systems, a source in the Russian embassy in Kyrgyzstan has told Interfax on Tuesday.
In June this year Russia supplied Kyrgyzstan with spare parts and equipment costing RUB4.1m (USD130,035) through the Rosoboronexport state-owned arms trader, the source said. These shipments are designed to repair and modernize air-defense systems of the Kyrgyz armed forces. Another shipment costing RUB3.5m (USD111,005) should be delivered to Kyrgyzstan for restoring its anti-aircraft missile systems in the near future.
Kyrgyz Defense Minister Esen Topoyev told Interfax that Kyrgyzstan and Russia enjoy cooperation in this sphere at a rather high level, which was largely promoted by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov's recent visit to Bishkek.
According to Topoyev, the country is included in the CIS Unified Air Defense System that is why permanent military- technical aid is being provided by the Russian Defense Ministry to the Kyrgyz air defense units.
The Kyrgyz defense minister considers the cost-free training of officers from Kyrgyzstan in Russian military higher educational establishments to be an important factor in bilateral military cooperation with Russia. At present a total of 700 Kyrgyz servicemen are studying in Russia.