Post-Soviet bloc vows to strengthen military forces

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) issued a declaration on Thursday, vowing to strengthen joint military forces of the Russia-led bloc.

"We pay special attention to equipping the collective forces of the CSTO with modern types of weapons and military equipment and increasing the effectiveness of joint operational and combat training," read the declaration published by the Kremlin.

It was signed in the Kazakh capital of Astana earlier in the day by Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of other CSTO member countries, namely Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia.

According to the document, the CSTO leaders intent to increase the volume of mutual supplies of weapons, military and special equipment and provide services in this field.

They also aim to establish close cooperation ties between defense enterprises and organizations and expand scientific and technical cooperation.

In the declaration, the six Soviet republics said they support efforts and initiatives aimed at ensuring the integrity of multilateral non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control mechanisms.

The CSTO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the principle of equal and indivisible security, saying they are concerned with the U.S. intention to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a landmark arms control deal.

"We stand for maintaining the viability of this agreement," they said in the document.