DUSHANBE, November 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Defense ministers from the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will meet in Dushanbe on November 10 to discuss state and prospects of further expansion of military-technical cooperation within the CIS area, according to the Minister of Defense (MoD).

Besides, Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev will start his official visit to Tajikistan on November 11, the source at a MoD said.  “Defense ministers of the two countries are expected to discuss issues related to expansion of military cooperation between Tajikistan and Azerbaijan,” he added.

The CIS council of defense ministers was set up on February 14, 1992.  It now includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.