Against a backdrop consisting of a huge replica of a Soviet decoration medal, military vehicles pass through Dvortsovaya Square during the military parade, devoted to the 63rd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, St.Petersburg, Russia 09 May 2008. Russia's military armoury was shown for the first time in the Victory Day parade for 17 years. EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEVFrom CNN:
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- A Russian-led bloc of post-Soviet nations has agreed to establish a rapid-reaction military force to combat terrorists and respond to regional emergencies, Russian media reported Wednesday.
The decision came a day after reports that Kyrgyzstan is planning to close a strategically important U.S. military base that Washington uses to transport troops and supplies into Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, the Collective Security Treaty Organization -- made up of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan -- decided on the rapid-reaction force at a Kremlin summit, the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti reported.
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My Comment: The Russians must have passed a lot of "inducements" for these countries to sign-up.