By Vestnik Kavkaza
Tomorrow the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the CSTO will gather in Tajikistan to discuss threats to the region. The Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, will participate in the forum. Today an active phase of the military exercises of the CSTO is beginning in Tajikistan. Within the framework of a spot check of contingents of the Collective Forces of Rapid Reaction (CFRR) of the CSTO, soldiers from Russia, Tajikistan, Belorussia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have already been sent to the Harbmaidon Training Area of the Hatlon Camp, which is situated in the south of Tajikistan.
“The location of the military exercises of the CFRR of the CSTO is not accidental. It is being implemented to demonstrate the capacities of use of force,” Valery Semerikov, the deputy General Secretary of the CSTO, said.
“We are often asked: “Why didn’t the CFRR use force in this or that situation?” Of course we had such situations, and we considered using the CFRR, as well as the peacemaking forces of our organization. However, to use the CFRR as intended, three conditions are needed:
- A request by one state or a group of states;
- An approval of all states to use the CFRR;
- A consensus decision by the Collective Security Council. During a check of military battle readiness of CFRR contingents for activities, according to their intended purpose, we managed to train the most important elements of the rapid reaction system,” Semerikov explained.
The CSTO unites Russia, Belorussia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Collective Forces of Rapid Reaction (CFRR) were founded in 2009. They involve 22 thousand people.
“It is not so easy to use the forces. It is necessary to undertake redeployment in an intended region or a region of rapid deployment. So every task requires the formation of a certain group. Today the Republic of Armenia is represented by a squadron with standard weapons and military vehicles. The Republic of Belarus is represented by a reinforced squadron with standard weapons and military vehicles. Kazakhstan is represented by an assault combat battalion. The Russian Federation is represented by a tactical group of the 98thAirborne Division of the Armed Forces of Russia, which includes 500 people and 52 military vehicles – airborne combat vehicle, cars, motorbikes and command vehicles,” the deputy General Secretary of the CSTO said.
According to him, the Air Forces of the members of the CSTO were used to redeploy the group: “AN-124, Il-76, AN-12 and AN-72 aircraft. 32 flights were made in general. The 6th Special-Purpose Separate Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic undertook a two-day march by military vehicles from the territory of Kyrgyzstan to the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, travelling more than 1000 km, including on mountainous roads. I should say that it is a very difficult task and a serious challenge for all soldiers and commanders. However, representatives of the Kyrgyz Republic managed to fulfill the task and came right in time to the rapid deployment area on the territory of Tajikistan.”
