“Interaction 2009” Command and staff exercises

Otar, October 03, 2009, Khabar - The Otar military testing site has witnessed the opening of one of the biggest, for the whole history of the CIS command and staff exercises entitled “Interaction 2009”. Recently, Kazakhstan met rapid reaction forces from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. In total, current military exercises will involve over 7 thousand military men, about 600 units of military equipment and 100 planes.
Exercises will include four stages. It is planned to use air forces of Russia and Kazakhstan during the first stage. Then, it is planned to conduct ground campaigns and finally, use all units of the emergency situation and home affairs ministry and interior troops. The active phase of exercises will happen on the 16th of October. It is planned that this day the testing site will host distinguished guests.

Mukhtar Altynbayev, chairman of armed forces joint chiefs committee, RK:
-The peculiarity of this exercises lies in the presence of the CSTO member states presidents. It is the first time in the history of the testing site, when exercises will be observed by 7 presidents and 7 defence ministers. For presidents, it will be the first visit to the testing site.

During these exercises, Kazakhstan’s armed forces are presented by the “Yug” area command division and a part of airmobile forces. It should be noted that currently regional headquarters and naval forces are also holding military exercises.