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Sergei Shoigu elected head of Council of CIS defense ministers

On the agenda of the Council are 27 items pertaining to different aspects of multilateral military cooperation between the CIS states

MOSCOW, December 11 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was elected Chairman of the Council of the CIS defense ministers at a meeting of the Council on Tuesday.

Shoigu was nominated for the post by his Azerbaijanian counterpart Safar Abiyev. "Sergei Kozhugetovich (Shoigu) has a tremendous work experience. He has been in politics in Russia for a long time. I think that such an experienced politician and organizer is worthy of being elected Chairman of the Council of the CIS defense ministers," the Azerbaijanian defense minister said. All the other participants in the meeting of the Council unanimously approved Shoigu for the post.

On the agenda of the Council are 27 items pertaining to different aspects of multilateral military cooperation between the CIS states. Participants are also to analyze the work of the Council in the outgoing year and approve a plan of the work for 2013, including a draft concept on the development of the common system of radar identification and exchange of information in the CIS framework about the chemical and biological situation.

Special attention will be focused on preparations for the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II. The Council will also discuss drafts of awards planned to be awarded at the jubilee celebrations; the drafts will subsequently be submitted to the Council of the CIS heads of state for approval.

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