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14 May 2012
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NATO Delegation to Visit Belarus
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A delegation of the NATO headquarters is to visit Belarus from 14 to 16 May.
NATO representatives will arrive to the country within the framework of Belarusian participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, as well as under the individual programme of partnership and cooperation between Belarus and NATO for 2012-2013.
The delegation includes representatives of the NATO secretariat, strategic command for transformation and operations and military attaches of the NATO member states accredited to the Belarusian Defence Ministry.
During the visit the parties are going to discuss current results and plans for Belarus' implementation of 2010 partnership goals, as well as consider a new draft package of 2012 partnership goals.
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2 May 2012
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Within the Framework of International Military Cooperation
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Deputy Defence Minister of Belarus Major General Mikhail Puzikov as head of the Belarusian delegation is to take part in a regular meeting of Defence Ministers' Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) to be held in Kazakhstan capital Astana on 3 May 2012.
During the session the parties will discuss joint efforts aimed at development of military cooperation among the CSTO member states with regard to the existing and possible global and regional security problems. The defence ministers will also consider equipping the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force with advanced armament and military hardware, as well as training military personnel for the CSTO countries. The agenda also includes preparation for the Vzaimodeistviye 2012 joint exercise, in which the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force will participate. This year the exercise will be held in Armenia.
Belarusian representatives will also participate in the opening ceremony of the KADEX 2012 arms show.
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International Conference
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On 3-4 May 2012, Moscow is to host the Missile Defence Factor in Forming New Security Space international conference.
The event will be attended by Pyotr Tikhonovsky, chief of the General Staff, first deputy defence minister of Belarus.
During the conference, the official position of the NATO countries and the views of independent experts on the development of the European segment of US missile defence will be introduced to the participants.
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28 April 2012
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Flight Safety in Spotlight
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From 25 to 27 April, Minsk hosted a training session for command staff of flight safety services in CIS militaries and the CIS coordinating committee for flight safety of military aviation.
The event is held to develop single views and approaches to ensuring flight safety of military aviation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, prevent air crashes and develop cooperation between authorised departments of CIS defence ministries in investigation and prevention of air accidents.
During the session the participants exchanged information on the state of flight safety in CIS countries, their experience in investigating air accidents and supervising the work of aviation personnel, as well as determined key areas of further cooperation and information exchange between CIS defence ministries.
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16 April 2012
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Military Inspection Activities
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On 16-20 April 2012, a Belarusian inspection group is to verify a specified area in Italy in accordance with the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence and Security-Building Measures.
The aim of the inspection is to confirm that no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 2011 Vienna Document is conducted in the specified area.
At the same time, a joint mission of Belarus and Russia is to conduct an observation flight over Lithuania and Poland on board the Russian An-30B aircraft. A representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces will participate in this activity , held under the Open Skies Treaty.
The aim of the flight is to verify military activities in the observed states.
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Minsk to Host Collegium of Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries
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Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov will visit Belarus on 18 April to participate in a regular session of the Joint Collegium of the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries.
During the visit, Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin will hold a face to face meeting with his Russian counterpart.
The two defence ministers will take part in the collegium's scheduled session to discuss further development of bilateral military cooperation.
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11 April 2012
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Minsk Hosting Meeting of Belarus-Russia Commission for Open Skies Treaty
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Representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces are participating in the meeting of the Belarus-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Open Skies Treaty. The event is being organised by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on 10 and 11 April 2012.
The agenda includes a number of important issues of the treaty's joint implementation.
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10 April 2012
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Official Visit of Ukrainian Defence Minister to Belarus
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The Ukrainian Defence Minister Dmitry Salamatin has completed his official visit to Belarus.
During the visit the Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin held a face to face meeting with his counterpart from Ukraine and the delegations conducted talks.
Dmitry Salamatin also met with the State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Leonid Maltsev.
The Ukrainian Defence Minister attended Aeromash JSC and the Belarusian State Military Industrial Committee, as well as laid a wreath at the obelisk on Victory Square.
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9 April 2012
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Ukrainian Defence Minister to Visit Belarus
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On 10 April, Ukrainian Defence Minister Dmitry Salamatin is to pay an official visit to Belarus.
During the visit, Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin will hold a meeting with his counterpart from Ukraine. The parties are going to discuss a number of issues concerning further development of bilateral military cooperation.
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5 April 2012
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Chiefs of Staff Committee Session
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On 5 April 2012, Kazakhstan capital Astana hosted regular sessions of the Committee of the Chiefs of the General Staffs of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states and the Chiefs of the General Staffs of the armed forces of the CSTO member states. Pyotr Tikhonovsky, Chief of the General Staff, First Deputy Defence Minister of Belarus, participated in these events.
Within the framework of the session of the Chiefs of the General Staffs of the CIS member states the participants discussed the issues of military cooperation, the list of joint events of the armed forces of the CIS member states in 2013.
Within the framework of the session of the Chiefs of the General Staffs of the CSTO member states the parties discussed the issues of further development of the military component of the organisation, as well as worked out mechanisms, forms and methods of this development, taking into account the common priorities and national interests.
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2 April 2012
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Military Inspection Activities
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On 2-6 April 2012, a Belarusian inspection group is to verify a specified area in Ukraine and to conduct an evaluation visit to one of the Ukrainian military unit according to the provisions of the interstate Agreement on Confidence and Security-Building Measures.
The aim of the inspection is to confirm that no military activity, subject to preliminary notification under the 2011 Vienna Document, is conducted in the specified area.
The inspectors will also evaluate the reliability of the information, presented by Ukraine to the OSCE member states according to the 2011 Vienna Document, on the personnel and materiel of the verified unit.
In the same period of time, a joint mission of the USA and Czech Republic is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the ОС-13 5В observation aircraft under the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight is to verify military activities in the observed states.
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26 March 2012
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Observation Flight
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On 26-30 March, a group of German and US inspectors is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the Swedish SAAB OS-100 observation aircraft within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The inspection is aimed at verifying military activities in the observed states.
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23 March 2012
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Joint Consultative Group Discusses Arms Control Issues
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On 21-23 March, Minsk hosted a meeting of the Joint Consultative Group of the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries on Arms Control within the framework of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The Russian delegation was headed by Col. Ruslan Shishin, deputy chief of the National Nuclear Threat Reduction Centre.
During the meeting the parties discussed joint actions in fulfilling their obligations on international arms control treaties in 2012.
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Hellenic Inspection Group
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On 19-22 March, a Hellenic inspection group, headed by Col. Theodoros Potolios, verified the announced area on the Belarusian territory under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).
The inspectors verified the 3620th artillery armament base, which was subject to control under CFE. The inspection group proved that the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the treaty, corresponded to the declared data.
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19 March 2012
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French Inspection Group Finishes Its Work in Belarus
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On 12-17 March, a French inspection group, headed by Maj. Patrick Rouille, conducted an assessment visit to the Republic of Belarus under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) and the 2011 Vienna Document.
During the visit the inspection group evaluated the reliability of the information, presented by Belarus to the OSCE member states on the personnel and materiel of the Belarusian North-Western Operational-Tactical Command.
The inspectors verified the 103rd independent guards mobile brigade and the 231st artillery brigade, which were subject to control under the CFE.
The French inspection group verified Belarusian military units and proved that the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the Treaty, corresponded to the declared data. Besides eight military inspectors from France, the group also included one from Germany.
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Belarusian Inspection Group Finishes Its Work in France
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On 12-17 March, a Belarusian inspection group conducted an assessment visit to France under CFE and the 2011 Vienna Document.
During the visit the inspection group evaluated the reliability of the information, presented by France to the OSCE member states, on the personnel and materiel of the verified military unit.
The Belarusian inspection group verified two French military units and proved that the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the Treaty, corresponded to the declared data.
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Joint Consultative Group to Discuss Arms Control Issues
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On 21-23 March, Minsk is to host a meeting of the Joint Consultative Group of the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries on Arms Control within the framework of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The Russian delegation will be headed by Col. Ruslan Shishin, deputy chief of the National Nuclear Threat Reduction Centre. During the meeting the parties will discuss joint actions in fulfilling their obligations on international arms control treaties in 2012.
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16 March 2012
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Hellenic Inspection Group to Visit Belarus
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On 19-22 March, a Hellenic inspection group, headed by Col. Theodoros Potolios, is to visit the Republic of Belarus under CFE. The inspectors will verify one military unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at their option), which is subject to control under CFE. The inspection is aimed at verifying the correspondence between the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the Treaty, and the declared data.
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Observation flight
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On 19-23 March, a group of British inspectors is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the Swedish SAAB OS-100 observation aircraft within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The inspection is aimed at verifying military activities in the observed states.
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15 March 2012
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Military Cooperation Issues
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On 15 March, the Belarusian Minister of Defence held a meeting with Mongolia's ambassador extraodinary and plenipotentiary to Russia (and Belarus), Brigadier General D. Idevkhten.
During the meeting, the Mongolian ambassador introduced a new defence attache. The parties also discussed further development of bilateral military cooperation.
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On 15 March, the acting chief of the international military cooperation directorate, Col. Dmitry Poverenny, met with the Austrian defence attache to Russia and Belarus, Brigadier General Helmut Fellner.
During the meeting, the Austrian military diplomat introduced his new deputy, Col. Alexander Plappart. The parties also discussed further development of bilateral military cooperation.
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12 March 2012
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Belarusian Inspection Group to Visit France
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On 12-17 March, a Belarusian inspection group is to visit France within the framework of the CFE and the 2011 Vienna Document. The inspectors will verify two military units (at their option), which are subject to control under the CFE, and conduct an evaluation visit to one of the French military units under the 2011Vienna Document. During the visit the inspection group will verify the correspondence between the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, and the declared data.
The inspection is aimed at evaluating the reliability of the information, presented by France to the OSCE member states, on the personnel and materiel of the verified unit.
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Working Meeting between the Belarusian Minister of Defence and State Secretary of the Union State
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On 12 March, Belarusian Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin had a working meeting with Grigory Rapota, State Secretary of the Union State.
During the working session the parties pointed out the high level of cooperation between Belarus and Russia in the military sphere and discussed the main lines of further development of military cooperation within the framework of the Union State.
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Bronze at World Indoor Athletics Championships
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On 9-11 March 2012, the World Indoor Athletics Championships was held in Istanbul, Turkey. The Belarusian national team involved 5 army athletes.
Warrant Officer Alina Talai posted a time of 7.97 sec. in the women's 60-m hurdles final and won the bronze.
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11 March 2012
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French Inspection Group to Visit Belarus
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On 12-17 March, a French inspection group is to visit the Republic of Belarus under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) and the 2011 Vienna Document. The inspectors will verify two military units of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at their option), which are subject to control under the CFE, and conduct an evaluation visit to the Belarusian North-Western Operational-Tactical Command under the 2011 Vienna Document.
The inspection is aimed at verifying the correspondence between the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, and the declared data. During the visit the inspection group will evaluate the reliability of the information, presented by Belarus to the OSCE member states, on the personnel and materiel of the verified unit. Besides eight military inspectors from France, the group also includes one inspector from Germany.
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7 March 2012
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Vienna Document Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting
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On 6-7 March, the 22nd Vienna Document Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting was held in Vienna, Austria. The participants of the meeting discussed the implementation of the Vienna Document in 2011, as well as proposals on raising the efficiency of the confidence- and security-building measures in the OSCE region, stipulated in the document. The Belarusian delegation was headed by Col. Vasily Seregov, acting chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Belarusian Defence Ministry department.
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Competition for Medals
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On 6 March, the European Freestyle Wrestling Championship began in Belgrade, Serbia. The opening day of the event was successful for the Belarusian national team. The first award was gained by Belarusian army athlete Sgt. Ivan Yankovsky, who won a bronze medal performing in the weight category of under 96 kilograms.
Competing for the bronze, Yankovsky beat Radoslaw Baran of Poland in two periods - 1:0, 1:0.
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6 March 2012
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Belarusian and Russian military officials discussing military historic issues
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On 6-7 March, Minsk hosted a regular working meeting between representatives of the Belarusian and Russian armed forces, dealing with military history. Held under the plan of bilateral cooperation between the two defence ministries, the meeting was headed by Col. O. Krivonos, deputy chief of the Belarusian General Staff for science, chief of the military science directorate.
The Russian delegation was headed by Ivan Basik, chief of the research institute for military history of the Russian General Staff Academy.
During the event the experts summed up the results of the military historic work, called 'Peoples of Belarus and Russia in the Year of Napoleon's Invasion' and agreed on its completion and publishing, as well as organisation of events, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812.
In addition, the participants of the meeting pointed out the topics of further joint military historic researches for 2013-2014, aimed at highlighting the events of the Great Patriotic War on the Belarusian and Russian territories.
In the course of the working meeting the parties agreed that further development of bilateral cooperation in military history will help to strengthen allied relations and develop patriotic education among the citizens of the Union State.
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1 March 2012
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Reservists Called up for Training Session
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Belarusian reservists have been called up for a training session in the 120th independent guards mechanised brigade, North-Western Operational Command.
The exercise will involve more than 450 reserve service members, including over 30 officers.
The activities are aimed at increasing the reservists' expertise in basic combat issues and enhance their practical skills in the corresponding military specialities, as well as improving command and control skills of officers.
At the final stage the reservists will take part in a command-and-staff exercise.
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27 February 2012
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Team of NATO Strategic Command Visiting Belarus
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On 26 February - 1 March 2012, a mobile training team on IED countermeasures of the Strategic Command Transformation is visiting Belarus. The visit is conducted within the framework of Belarusian participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and implementation of the measures for achieving the partnership aims, which had been approved by Belarus during the programme's Planning and Review Process.
The main purpose of the visit is to conduct training on combating IEDs, as well as to assist the Republic of Belarus in implementing such partnership goals as defeating IEDs and improving the capabilities of mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal.
The training sessions will be held in the 2nd engineer brigade. The service members will study the issues of countering IEDs, including cases when they are applied in armed conflicts.
The participants will study the procedure of clearing mines and blind shells, established in the armed forces of the NATO countries and recommendations to Belarus for improving the capabilities of defeating IEDs, as well as exchange information on the results of the Belarusian special units' activities aimed at eliminating explosive objects on the country's territory.
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Vienna Document in Action
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From 27 February to 1 March, a Belarusian inspection group is to verify specified areas in Poland and Germany within the framework of the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence and Security-Building Measures.
The inspections are aimed at confirming the absence of military activities that require advance notification under the provisions of the 2011 Vienna Document.
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24 February 2012
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International Cooperation
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21 February 2012, the acting chief of the international military cooperation directorate, Col. Dmitry Poverenny, met with military diplomats from several foreign countries, accredited to the Belarusian Ministry of Defence:
Air Commodore Carl Scott, British defence attache to Belarus and Russia;
Lt. Col. Philippe Gautier, defence attache to Belarus (with office in Kiev).
The meeting with Air Commodore Carl Scott was held as a completion of his accreditation to the Belarusian Ministry of Defence. The parties agreed to continue cooperation in such areas as language training, peacekeeping activities and culture.
During the meeting with the French defence attache the two parties discussed the problems of bilateral military cooperation and prospects of its development. The parties pointed out the most topical issues of cooperation, which are of mutual interest.
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20 February 2012
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New Appointments
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According to the press-service of the head of state, President Alexander Lukashenko has made new appointments in the Belarusian Armed Forces, having signed relevant decrees on 17 February.
Major General Mikhail Puzikov was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence.
Major General Valery Khokhlov was appointed chief of the main directorate for combat training in the Armed Forces.
Colonel Igor Matrashilo was appointed chief of the directorate for territorial defence, Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
The appointments were made within the framework of reorganisation activities in the Armed Forces, aimed at optimising the structure of military command.
Major-General Dmitry Pakhmelkin was appointed commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence by the decree of President Alexander Lukashenko on 20 February.
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15 February 2012
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Exercise Finishes
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On 14 and 15 February, during a special tactical exercise, the 308th independent missile battalion of the 465th missile brigade performed operational firing with the Tochka tactical missile system, and service members of the heavy howitzer artillery battalion of the 111st guards artillery brigade practiced their skills in fire control of artillery batteries.
The artillery battalion conducted field firing to extreme range from the organic 152-mm 2А65 Msta-B howitzer.
One of the exercise's features was integrated tactical employment of rocket and artillery units.
The fire was adjusted and checked by the UAVs in service with the 927th center for the development and application of unmanned aircraft systems of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence.
The engineer units practiced engineer support of rocket and artillery units.
The aim of the exercise was to improve field training of the personnel in accomplishing the service tasks in different environments, as well as their practical skills.
The intensity of the combat training process has increased with the introduction of new enlistment terms in the Belarusian army, which allowed involving the soldiers called up in November 2011.
The tasks of the exercise have been accomplished. Final results will be drawn after a thorough analysis.
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10 February 2012
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17th Anniversary of the CIS Integrated Air Defence System
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The idea to develop the CIS integrated air defence system was first discussed at the scientific and practical conference on 30 November, 1994, in which defence ministers of the CIS member states participated.
On 10 February 1995, presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine signed the relevant agreement. This event launched the process of actual integration and development of close allied relations between the CIS states in the military sphere, with cooperation in air defence being one of its priorities.
Initially, the CIS integrated air defence system was constituted by 32 SAM formations and units, 6 fighter aircraft units and 23 radio-technical formations and units.
At present, Belarus is represented in the CIS integrated air defence system by fighter aircraft, SAM and radio-technical units.
Since 1995, air defence alert forces have been participating in multilateral command and staff exercises, during which they accomplish mission area tasks. These exercises involve combat crews, command points and equipment on air defence combat duty.
Integrated air defence combat alert intended to protect external borders of the CIS states became a logical integration measure within the CIS integrated air defence system.
Belarusian and Russian air defence forces were the first to perform air defence alert missions on 1 April, 1996. They were joined by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan after they had signed a trilateral instruction on joint actions of air defence alert forces. At present, air defence alert missions are performed also by Armenian and Uzbek air defence forces. The system created allows protecting air borders and controlling air space of its member states.
Performance of air defence alert missions requires involvement of 15 command points of different levels, a SAM brigade and regiment, 18 subunits of radio-technical brigades, as well as about 600 service members on a daily basis.
Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence personnel performing combat duty follow up about 400 aircraft a day, most of them being transit ones, which belong both to state and private air carriers from all over the world.
On 27 February 1996, the defence ministries of Belarus and Russia signed an agreement regulating the provision of Russian firing ranges to Belarusian air defence units.
Due to this agreement, in 1996 members of Belarusian air defence formations and units could practice field firing during a tactical exercise at Russian ranges.
Results of field firing and high level of combat crew's qualification formed the basis for further development of cooperation within the framework of the integrated air defence system.
The cooperation was manifested in the Boyevoye Sodruzhestvo 1998 joint operational exercise, during which formations and units of the Belarusian Air Defence Force, Kazakh Air Force, Kyrgyz Air Force and Russian Air Force performed field firing.
Since 1998, the Boyevoye Sodruzhestvo joint operational exercises involved about 90 SAM battalions of different SAM systems, 75 crews of fighter, attack and bomber aircraft.
The CIS integrated air defence system is a core element of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). The system has its practical application, as well as actual and long-term prospects.
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7 February 2012
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Cooperation within CSTO Framework
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On 8-9 February, Minsk will host the first stage of the session, dedicated to the education of service members from CSTO states in Belarusian military schools.
The event will be attended by military officials from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tadzhikistan and the CSTO Joint Staff.
The session's participants will visit the Military Academy of Belarus, get acquainted with its structure, tasks and training facilities. They will visit the air defence IT department, communication and C4ISR systems department, combined-arms department and airfield base. The session's program includes acquaintance with training facilities of the military technical department of the Belarusian State Technical University, military department of the Belarusian State University and military medical department of the Belarusian State Medical University.
The event will end in the participants visiting the command and staff department and General Staff department of the Belarusian Armed Forces, where the results of the session's first stage will be summarised.
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6 February 2012
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Dates of Annual Holidays Established
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The Belarusian Defence Minister has issued an order, establishing the dates of annual holidays of the military education directorate and military departments in the higher educational institutions.
Thus, 1 June has become the annual holiday of the military education directorate, Belarusian Armed Forces, 15 March - that of the military department in the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, 6 June - military medical department in the Belarusian State Medical University, 11 June - military technical department in the Belarusian National Technical University and military transport department in the Belarusian State University of Transport, 30 June - military department in the Yanka Kupala State University in Grodno, 5 August - military department in the Minsk State Higher Aviation College and 4 November - military department in the Belarusian State University.
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Belarusian-Lithuanian Meeting Dedicated to Implementing Bilateral Agreement
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A Belarusian military delegation, headed by Col. Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Belarusian Defence Ministry, is to visit Lithuania in order to take part in the working meeting, dedicated to implementing the Agreement between Belarus and Lithuania on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures.
The meeting will take place in Vilnius on 7-9 February 2012.
The participants of the meeting will evaluate the implementation of the Belarusian-Lithuanian agreement in 2011, discuss measures aimed at enhancing the agreement's efficiency in connection with the adoption of the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence and Security-Building Measures, as well as the mutual training of personnel in the sphere of arms control.
The Lithuanian delegation will be headed by Lt. Col. Raimondas Ivanauskas, chief of the Arms Control Division, Joint Staff, Lithuanian Armed Forces.
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2 February 2012
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Joint Staff Training of Missile Troops and Artillery Directorate
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On 1-2 February, the missile troops and artillery directorate, Belarusian General Staff, conducted joint staff training.
The aim of the training is to improve the command and control skills of the missile troops and artillery officials.
The participants of the training practiced the employment of the missile troops and artillery, the main attention being paid to its qualitative planning, as well as sustainable management of troops.
Every training stage included a package of measures, intended to provide command and control points' and units' survival during advance and deployment under enemy active surveillance and reconnaissance.
During the joint staff training, a qualitative approach to issues concerning interoperability with other troops and military units has been achieved.
The training's results have proved high professional level of officials of missile troops and artillery command and control bodies.
All the training's objectives have been achieved in full.
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Field Training
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On 2 February, the 308th independent missile artillery battalion of the 465th missile brigade started its field training under the plan of the Armed Forces' training.
The main aim of the training is to improve command and control skills of commanders, as well as personnel's skills in accomplishing the service tasks.
This field training will end in a tactical-special exercise.
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31 January 2012
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Scheduled Rotation
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On 23 January, a Belarusian service member Lt. Col. Yuri Maly left for Lebanon within the framework of the scheduled personnel rotation of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
The Belarusian service member will serve as a staff officer in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and will be responsible for maintaining liaison between the mission command and high-ranking officers of the Lebanese armed forces, as well as for organising and holding relevant meetings.
As a full member of the world community, Belarus makes its contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security, including participation in peacekeeping operations under the aegis of the UN and other international organisations.
In 2009, a decision was made on Belarus joining in UN peacekeeping activities.
On 2 August 2010, the Belarusian President signed Decree No.400 on the participation of Belarusian service members in the peacekeeping activities in Lebanon.
For the moment there are three Belarusian representatives in Lebanon: two military doctors and one officer of the mission's staff.
Specialists of the military medical service of the Belarusian Armed Forces (a surgeon and an anesthesiologist) accomplish their tasks in the military hospital of the Indian Armed Forces, rendering medical assistance to both the UN peacekeepers and local population.
Last year the UN Secretariat proposed Belarus to appoint its service member to the position of a liaison officer in the newly formed UN Mission in South Sudan. At the moment the officer is passing training to participate in the mission.
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Representative of the International Red Cross Committee to Visit Belarus
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On 1-3 February, Oleg Bondarenko, representative of the Delegation of the International Red Cross Committee in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, is to visit Belarus under the international military cooperation action plan for 2012.
Colonel of Justice Erik Chislov, chief of the Belarus Defence Ministry's judicial directorate, will meet with the representative of the Red Cross Committee.
Under the programme of the visit, the representative of the Red Cross Delegation, chief of the programme for cooperation with armed forces, will take part in the round table dedicated to the integration of international humanitarian law into the military training system. Oleg Bondarenko will also lecture to the officers of the Belarusian Defence Ministry, service members of the Belarusian Military Academy and the 72nd unified training center for NCOs and junior specialists. These lectures will be dedicated to the observance of international humanitarian law during military training and combat operations, as well as enforcement of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts.
In the course of the visit the parties will sign an action plan of cooperation between the Belarusian Defence Ministry and the Delegation of the International Red Cross Committee for 2012.
Founded in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) conducts its activities all over the world, rendering humanitarian assistance to the victims of conflicts and armed violence, as well as spreading knowledge about the laws protecting the victims of war. Being an independent and neutral organisation, the committee has a mandate stipulated by the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
ICRC is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and has about 12,000 employees in 80 countries. The committee is mainly financed through voluntary contributions of governments and national societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
ICRC conducts its activities on the basis of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocols to them, its Statute and the Statute of the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, as well as resolutions of the International Conferences of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
The International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is aimed at preventing and soothing human sufferings during military operations and emergency situations, for example, in case of epidemics, floods and earthquakes.
This movement includes the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and 186 national societies. Every component of the movement has its own legal status and accomplishes its own tasks, but their activities are united by seven basic principles such as humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntariness, unity and universality. Every component of the movement is dedicated to respecting and upholding these principles.
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Crime Rate in Belarusian Armed Forces Keeps Reducing
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On 30 January, Minsk hosted a regular session of the Collegium of the Belarusian Defence Ministry under the direction of Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin.
The participants of the session considered the results of the work aimed at strengthening military discipline in the Armed Forces in 2011 and the tasks connected with the further strengthening of law and order in the Armed Forces in 2012.
They also marked the considerable reduction of crime rate in military units. Last year the number of crimes committed by service members reduced by 22% in comparison with 2010 (in 2010 this number was 14%).
The crime rate reduced in almost all categories of offences.
The number of crimes committed during the accomplishment of service tasks by service members has reduced by 23% and the number of military crimes - by 33%.
The crime factor for 1,000 people in 2011 was 2.2. It is the lowest crime rate in the history of the Belarusian Armed Forces. In 1994 the crime factor was 10.9, in 2004 it was 6.0 and in 2007 - 4.2. As a comparison, in the US Army in 2007 there were 9 deserters per 1,000 service members.
Nevertheless, the range of negative events does not give cause for self-complacence even though we have achieved a radical crime reduction.
In this connection the Collegium decreed that in 2012 the main efforts will be focused on further increase of the efficiency of work aimed at providing secure service conditions, conserving life and health of service members and preventing offences.
Great attention will be paid to comprehensive study and support of the newly arrived enlisted service members in their day-to-day activities, their social and psychological adaptation to military service, organisation of internal service in vehicle parks and ensuring safe operation and maintenance of armament and military equipment.
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24 January 2012
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Belarusian Inspectors Visiting Polish Armed Forces
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On 24-26 January 2012, a Belarusian inspection group is paying an evaluation visit to a military unit of the Polish armed forces under the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures.
The aim of the visit is to evaluate the information, presented by Poland to the OSCE states parties under the 2011 Vienna Document regarding the personnel and main materiel of the unit.
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19 January 2012
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Training Session
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On 19-20 January, the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Belarusian Defence Ministry, is hosting a training session with the officers of the Air Force and Air Defence, operational (operational-tactical) commands, military units and organisations of the Defence Ministry, responsible for implementing international arms control treaties.
The main goals of the session are to sum up the activities aimed at supporting the work of foreign inspectors in Belarus in 2011 and to set tasks for 2012.
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18 January 2012
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Main Results of Belarusian Arms Control Activities in 2011
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In 2011 Belarus conducted its inspection activities in the sphere of conventional arms control within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), 1999 Vienna Document of the Negotiations on Confidence and Security-Building Measures, Open Skies Treaty and bilateral agreements on the additional regional measures of confidence and security with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. During the mutual inspections and visits the inspectors checked information presented by the CFE and 1999 Vienna Document states parties regarding the military units of the armed forces.
In the course of the year Belarusian escort groups, trained by the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Belarusian Defence Ministry, received 28 inspections, visits and observation flights of the states parties of international arms control treaties.
The passive quota of inspections and visits to Belarus was fully used by the states parties of international treaties in 2011.
All the foreign inspection groups were multinational and included from one to five invited inspectors from other NATO and OSCE states parties.
Belarus carried out all its international obligations connected with the CFE, 1999 Vienna Document, agreements on regional measures of confidence and security and Open Skies Treaty. The authors of the reports on implementing control measures on the territory of Belarus under the 1999 Vienna Document and agreements on regional measures of confidence and security, sent to all the OSCE states parties, noted the fulfillment of all the specified confidence and security measures by Belarus, openness, transparency and good training of service members in the visited military units, as well as professionalism of the escort.
On 18-21 April, the representatives of the OSCE states parties conducted their visits to the 61st fighter airbase in Baranovichi and 11th independent mobile brigade in Slonim under the 1999 Vienna Document, which was an important arms control event in Belarus in 2011.
These visits were highly appreciated by the representatives of 27 OSCE states parties, which had accepted Belarusian invitation and taken part in the visits.
In 2011 Belarusian inspection groups, trained by the National Agency for Control and Inspections, conducted twenty six inspections and visits:
nine inspections of specified areas within the framework of CFE, in the course of which the inspectors verified objects of control in the armed forces of Germany (2), Denmark (2), Poland (2), France (2) and the Czech Republic (1);
seven inspections of specified areas in Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document, as well as four evaluation visits of the military units of the Polish, US (in Germany), French and Estonian armed forces;
two inspections of specified areas in Poland and Ukraine and four evaluation visits of the military units of the Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian armed forces within the framework of the agreements on regional measures of confidence and security.
Besides, Belarusian inspectors also took part in 12 inspections and observation flights on the invitation of verification centres in Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine within the framework of the CFE, 1999 Vienna Document and Open Skies Treaty.
In the course of foreign inspection activities, Belarus confirmed that the inspected states parties had fulfilled their obligations on international arms control treaties.
In 2011 Belarusian service members also took part in twelve activities on the invitation of Greece, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine, which conducted visits to airbases and military objects, demonstrations of new types of main materiel systems, as well as large-scale military activities.
The National Agency for Control and Inspections took active part in considering international arms control treaties in 2011 within the framework of the sittings and sessions of consultative bodies in Vienna (Austria), including those of the Joint Consultative Group (on CFE), OSCE Forum on Security Cooperation (on 1999 Vienna Document and OSCE Document on Light and Small Arms) and Consultative Commission on the Open Skies (on the Open Skies Treaty).
The representatives of the National Agency for Control and Inspections also took part in a number of other activities, including the 4th Review Conference of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, Annual Meeting for Implementation Review of the 1999 Vienna Document, OSCE Annual Security Review Conference, as well as Annual Meeting of the Chiefs of the OSCE Verification Centres.
Besides, the parties conducted four bilateral working meetings, dedicated to the evaluation of the implementation of agreements on regional measures of confidence and security with Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, three sittings of the Joint Consultative Group of the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries on Arms Control, as well as two working meetings of the representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces with the representatives of Kazakh and French armed forces, dedicated to bilateral arms control cooperation.
In 2011 Belarus fulfilled all its international obligations in the sphere of arms control.
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6 January 2012
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Belarusian Inspection Group to Visit a Military Unit in Germany
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On 10-12 January 2012, a Belarusian inspection group is to conduct an evaluation visit to a military unit of the German armed forces under the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures.
The aim of the visit is to verify the information, presented by Germany to the OSCE member states under the 2011 Vienna Document, regarding the unit's personnel and materiel.
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