PRIVATE Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are working on two military cooperation agreements. A Kyrgyz Defence Ministry official told Interfax on Thursday 12 December that they include an agreement on confidence-building measures within the border area and a defence cooperation treaty. "These documents will lay the groundwork for contacts between the two countries' defence ministries and special services. Their ties now proceed under treaties and agreements signed within the CIS and the Collective Security Treaty organization," the official said. The agreement on confidence-building measures envisages collaboration between the Kyrgyz and Tajik border guard services and customs and military units stationed near the border. The second document is designed to advance contacts between the two countries' defence ministries and security agencies, including defence contacts, joint efforts in the anti-terrorism fight and training exercises. "Kyrgyzstan has signed similar treaties with Russia, Kazakhstan and Armenia," the source said, adding that these documents may be signed no earlier than mid-2003. The official said the Kyrgyz-Tajik joint intergovernmental commission will discuss providing some Kyrgyz defence sector products to Tajikistan at its session on Thursday. (Interfax)