TODAY: Kyrgyzstan to vote on US base closure next week, but government says it has already made its decision; CSTO Summit leads to creation of rapid reaction force for economic and military support to former Soviet states; Russia welcomes new US treaty; UN Council calls for and end to violence against minorities and journalists.

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament will vote next week on whether to shut its US air base, considered an important staging post for US troops in Afghanistan.  ‘The government needs parliamentary approval to proceed with the closure but this is seen as a formality as the chamber is controlled by a pro-presidential party.’  The government says it has already sent a decree to parliament to end its cooperation with Washington on the base.  Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin denies there is a link between Moscow’s decision to give Kyrgyzstan aid worth more than $2 billion and President Bishkek’s decision to close the air base.  ‘It is interesting to try to figure out exactly what Russia is trying to achieve. After all, it is hard to deny that the United States and NATO are defending Russia’s national security in Afghanistan.’  Despite the move to close the base, Dmitry Medvedev says he wants to help the US campaign in Afghanistan.