Global Security Newswire

Former Soviet states on Monday convened two days of talks to address their coordination on countering WMD threats, including plans for intergovernmental readiness activities, Interfax reported (see GSN, Oct. 9, 2007).

The Commonwealth of Independent States discussion in Yerevan, Armenia, involves the Coordinating Council of military officials overseeing radiation, chemical and biological protection units for the defense ministries in their respective member nations. The group is chaired by Russian Maj. Gen. Gennady Starkov, who holds the top anti-WMD position in his country.

The conference was expected to address "aspects of military-technological cooperation on developing a joint system of control of the radiation, chemical and biological situation and the organization of joint preparation events," Russian Defense Ministry ground forces spokesman Lt. Col. Sergei Vlasov said.

Organized in April 2010, the Coordinating Council is intended to foster collaborative efforts aimed at establishing, refining and bolstering a shared mechanism for managing radiation, chemical and biological issues in CIS member nations. The group is made up of representatives from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan (Interfax, Oct. 3).