Kyrgyzstan says Russia strategic partner in military cooperation

Itar-Tass

MOSCOW - Kyrgyzstan considers Russia a strategic partner in the field of military and technical cooperation, Kyrgyz Minister Ismail Isakov said on Tuesday on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the country's armed forces.

He described Russian-Kyrgyz cooperation as "effective, good-neighbourly and mutually advantageous."

"Today we cooperate in several areas. First of all, this is military and technical cooperation," he said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda military daily.

"For instance, last October, the two counties' defence ministries signed an agreement on Russia's gratuitous military and technical aid to Kyrgyzstan in 2006-2008 worth 27 million U.S. dollars," Isakov said.

"Under the agreements reached Russia helps our republic upgrade and prolong service life of military planes and helicopters," he said. Russia has already granted two Mi-8 MTB and two Mi-24 B helicopters.

"Moreover, within the framework of Russian-Kyrgyz cooperation a mobile aircraft repair laboratory will become operational soon," he said.

"Annually the country's armed forces are reinforced by Kyrgyz citizens, who graduated from Russia's higher military schools. Over the past several years Russia trained over 800 military specialists. At present, 40 Kyrgyz officers are mastering their skills at the Russian Military Academy," Isakov said.