Agreement To Set Up Rapid Deployment Force In Central Asia Signe

Army units of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia and Tajikistan will form the new military force. Byelorussia President Alexander Lukashenko specified that initially one battalion from each four signatories to the Collective Security Treaty would be included in the collective force. Later it will be enlarged to military brigades. The headquarters is planned to be based in Bishkek, Kirghizia's capital. It will consist of eight members. The countries of the CSC say that the main need to create the RDF has to do with the crisis situation in Afghanistan as well as in the Caucasus and Chechnya.