DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS CENTRAL ASIA IS 'CENTER OF WORLD
TERRORISM.' During a visit to Tajikistan, Defense Minister
Igor Sergeev said that "the center of world terrorism is
shifting to Central Asia and that Russia, with its allies,
should immediately begin to form a joint force to cope with
this development," "Krasnaya zvezda" reported on 28
October. He suggested that China, India, and Iran would
also be interested in joining a regional security system.
Sergeev pledged that Russia had no plans to leave the
region but instead would work to "reinforce its presence by
creating permanent military bases in Tajikistan and by
launching a diplomatic offensive as well."
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