MOSCOW. (Dmitry Yevlashkov, RIA Novosti)
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will be able to strengthen its positions in the region.The CSTO also has an air force base in Kyrgyzstan. Today, there are three squadrons of SU-25 assault aircraft, helicopters, trainers, cargo aircraft and more than 500 Russian air force servicemen at the air base in Kant near Bishkek. If need be, up to 2,000 servicemen and any amount of military hardware can be deployed there in a matter of hours. At present, the CSTO is discussing Kyrgyzstan's proposal to accommodate modern anti-aircraft missile systems of Russian make in its south.
"Today, only the CSTO can ensure security in the region," Knyazev believes. Comparing U.S. and Russian military presence in Kyrgyzstan is inappropriate, to say the least. The United States rendered aid to Kyrgyzstan only on a few occasions, whereas Russia continues to give the Kyrgyz armed forces military-technical assistance worth tens of millions of dollars."