R. KOCHARIAN THANKED BOTH ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN SERVICEMEN FOR VALIANT SERVICE TO FATHERLAND

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President Robert Kocharian thanked participants of the final phase of the jubilee 10th Armenian-Russian military and tactical exercises, held on the ground after marshal Baghramyan in Armavir region of Armenia today. The Armenian leader thanked both Armenian and Russian servicemen for valiant service to Fatherland. "Fraternity between Armenia and Russia continues. It comes out in an agreement, in compliance with which there is a Russian military base in Armenia and joint exercises are held," R. Kocharian emphasized. Having thanked the personnel, Russian Ambassador Nikolay Pavlov in his turn noted the high level of harmony in work of Armenian and Russian military units. It should be reminded the exercises were held in compliance with the bilateral cooperation plan. Secretary of the National Security Council at the Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan, CSTO Sec. Gen. Nikolay Bordyuzha and commander of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasia (GRTT) major general Andrey Popov followed the maneuvers as well. 545th infantry fortified regiment, a tank company, antiaircraft means, an intelligence group, as well as four SU-25 planes, four MI-24 and two MI-8 helicopters took part in the event from the Armenian side. The Russian party was represented by a fortified infantry battalion, a tank company, S-300 antiaircraft missile complex and four MIG-29 planes. The personnel of both parties taking part in the exercises numbered 1307 servicemen, while the equipment totaled 294 units. The script of the exercises provides for repulsing an attack of a conditional adversary and subsequent elimination of his units. The exercises aim at working out interaction between the Armenian and Russian formations. A new detail was introduced in the script - a counter-terror operation, during which a possible act of terrorism by the conditional adversary was prevented, reported IA Regnum.