DUSHANBE, May 23, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A tripartite meeting of defense ministers of Tajikistan (Sherali Khairulloyev), Kazakhstan (Adilbek Jasybekov) and Kyrgyzstan (Abibilla Kudaiberdiyev) took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan at the end of last week.

Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for Tajik Ministry of Defense, says the meeting, initiated by the Kazakh defense minister, focused on issues related to conducting joint military exercises, military and technical cooperation, training of personnel, and exchange of operating data. 

Besides, Tajik and Kyrgyz defense ministries agreed to conduct joint military exercises in Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region in July this year, the spokesman said.

Chinese news agency, Xinhua, refereeing to Kyrgyz Defense Ministry’s press office reported the meeting was held on May 20.  The meeting participants discussed the prospects for military and military-technical cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues.

In particular, they discussed the issues of joint consultations in case of emergencies that threaten one of the parties.  The three ministers agreed on the need "to conduct joint exercises and training with the involvement of the military special forces" and "to develop mechanisms for a comprehensive military cooperation and to provide each other with military- technical assistance.”

All these actions aim to "strengthen the confidence measures in the military field and coordinate efforts to counter new challenges and threats to regional security," said the press release issued by Kyrgyz Defense Ministry’s press office.