The State Duma ratified an agreement between Russia and Tajikistan on Thursday to create a joint air defense system.
According to the document, the parties are creating a joint regional air defense system, which is an integral part of the joint air defense system of the CIS member states. This is done to enhance the effectiveness of air defense tasks in the region.
Taking into consideration the disconnection of territories of the two countries, participants of the agreement will set apart a separate region of collective security within the territory and airspace of Tajikistan. The list of military command bodies, command posts, formations, formations and military units, allocated in the joint regional air defense system is to be approved jointly by the ministers of defense of the parties with the possibility to make changes in it.
The agreement says that coordination of joint actions of the forces of the united regional air defense system and forces from other regional air defense systems in the Central Asian region of collective security is to be carried out by the commander-in-chief of the air and space forces of the Russian Armed Forces. The commander of the troops of the Central Military District of the Armed Forces is in charge of the general management of Russian air defense forces within the boundaries of a separate area of collective security, and the commander of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Tajikistan is in charge of joint operations of the forces of the united air defense system within the boundaries of a separate area of collective security.
The document notes that the existing order of financing and supplying the armed forces of the parties within the framework of the joint air defense system will not be changed. The agreement is signed for five years. Later it will be automatically prolonged for next five-year periods.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the establishment of such an air defense system in April during talks with the head of the military department of Tajikistan. Shoigu explained that the parties prepared a draft agreement to improve the reliability of state border protection in the airspace.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS