MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - The planned...

"The Russian military presence on the territory of our CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] allies - Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - is dictated by our shared concern over maintaining regional stability and security in the face of the challenges and threats of international terrorism," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

The statement said a training center at the base could be used by collective rapid reaction forces.

The Kyrgyz ambassador said earlier on Wednesday that Kyrgyzstan wanted Russia to locate the base closer to its border with Uzbekistan, in the southern Batken region.

However, Raimkul Attakurov said other members of the post-Soviet CSTO must have a say on where the base is to be placed.

Uzbekistan has protested against the plans for a base close to its border, saying it could lead to an increase in militarization and destabilize the region.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Kyrgyz counterpart Kurmanbek

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