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Russia to help Kyrgyzstan after NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan – Defence Ministry

The ministry’s aid is designed “to maintain the high combat potential of the Kyrgyz army, which is capable of countering modern challenges and threats in the Central Asian region

Sergei Shoigu (archive) ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

Sergei Shoigu (archive)

© ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

MOSCOW, February 21. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia will help Kyrgyzstan’s Armed Forces cope with new threats after the international coalition leaves Afghanistan in 2014, the Defence Ministry’s press service told Itar-Tass on Friday.

The ministry’s aid is designed “to maintain the high combat potential of the Kyrgyz army, which is capable of countering modern challenges and threats in the Central Asian region, particularly after the withdrawal of the coalition troops from Afghanistan in 2014”, the press service said.

Russia will restore Kyrgyz weapons and military hardware at the enterprises of Russia’s military-industrial complex, the press service said.

A corresponding decision has been taken by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Last Wednesday, the Kyrgyz delegation led by the plenipotentiary envoy for the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) visited one of the arsenals of Russia’s Armed Forces in Tver Region.

The delegation watched the repair and modernisation of Kyrgyz weapons and military hardware and expressed satisfaction with the quality.

Chief of the Defence Ministry Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation Sergei Koshelev said the service and repair of Kyrgyz weapons and military hardware would be made on a permanent base.

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