Course for NATO and OSCE Verification Centres Representatives
On 30 August - 10 September 2010, the National Agency for Control and Inspections is conducting a course on experience exchange between arms control inspectors and further study of the Russian language.
The course is attended by 13 representatives of verification centres in the NATO and OSCE member states, such as Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Poland, France and Czech Republic.
The lessons are given by Belarusian specialists, as well as a representative of the Ukrainian military verification centre.
Session of Belarus-Russian Intergovernmental Open Skies Commission
A session of the Belarus-Russian Intergovernmental Open Skies Commission is to be held in Moscow on 2-3 September 2010.
In the course of the session the parties are planning to harmonise their positions and joint actions on accomplishing the Open Skies Treaty.
The Belarusian delegation will be headed by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections.
Success of Belarusian Army Athletes
On 30 August, the 44th world CISM swimming championship ended in Varendorf, Germany.
The army athletes representing the Belarusian Armed Forces won 2 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals.
Belarus was represented three athletes such as Svetlana Khokhlova, Pavel Sankovich and Alexander Bashlakov.
Warrant Officer Svetlana Khokhlova won 2 gold medals in the championship. She became a winner in 50 m freestyle swimming and batterfly. She also won a bronze medal in 100 m backstroke.
Army athelete Pavel Sankovich won a silver medal in 100 m butterfly and Alexander Bashlakov became a bronze prizewinner in 50 m and 100 m freestyle swimming.
On the whole, the competition involved athletes from 21 countries.
27 August 2010
Inspection of Specified Area in Belarus Accomplished
On 26 August, a Belgian inspection group, headed by Lt. Col. Willem Boffin, finished their verification visit to Belarus. Besides two Belgian military inspectors, the group included specialists from Spain and Romania. The inspectors confirmed that no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document is conducted in the specified area.
26 August 2010
Active Phase of Tactical Exercise is Over
Today's field firing marked the end of the 3rd stage of the tactical exercise, conducted by the two commands of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence.
The personnel of the 15th, 120th, 115th and 302nd air defence brigades conducted field firing from the S-300, Buk and Osa SAM systems. The Belarusian service members successfully accomplished their tasks and hit all the targets.
The field firing was conducted under the control of Belarus Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin.
The 3rd stage of the exercise was held at the 42nd training centre of the Russian Air Force, which offered a complex target layout.
Very soon the Belarusian combat crews and their materiel will be redeployed to their permanent dispositions by rail and by air.
25 August 2010
Third Stage of Exercise in Ashuluk
The units of the Western Operational-Tactical Command and North-Western Operational-Tactical Command, Belarus Air Force and Air Defence, are going through the 3rd stage of the exercise at the Ashuluk range in Russia.
On 22 August, 8 a.m., the Belarusian military units took up the combat duty under the concept of the exercise.
This required considerable preliminary work. The staffs had worked out the operation plans for the AD duty forces and new combat duty documents, as well as checked the forces' readiness for action.
On 23 August, the personnel of the military units were presented to the command staff of the range. Russian officers expressed their readiness to render all the necessary assistance to the Belarusian units in the course of the exercise. Particular attention was paid to security measures.
Service members from combat crews passed special tests before conducting field firing. Their aim was to assess the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the service members.
The Belarusian units are currently preparing their weapons and equipment for field firing and the combat crews are going through pre-firing training. The forces have already established their C4ISRs and communication systems.
20 August 2010
Exercise of Belarus Air Force and Air Defence Proceeding to Active Phase
On 20 August, the Western Operational-Tactical Command and North-Western Operational-Tactical Command, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence, have proceeded to the 3rd stage of the tactical exercise.
More than 600 service members of the Air Force and Air Defence armed with 170 weapons units were redeployed to the Alushuk range, Russia, by rail and by air for the active phase of the exercise.
The 3rd stage of the tactical exercise is held at the 42nd training centre of the Russian Air Force. During this stage the 15th, 120th, 115th and 302nd air defence brigades will conduct field firing from the S-300, Buk and Osa SAM systems. A complex target layout will be simulated at the range. For the first time the units will use the new Bekas and Saman targets, which simulate precision weapons and advanced aircraft.
The 3rd stage of the tactical exercise will be held till 26 August. Then the combat crews and their materiel will be redeployed to their permanent dispositions.
19 August 2010
Belarusian Military Wrestlers Win 8 Gold Medals
On 10-16 August, the 27th World Military Wrestling Championship was held in Lahti, Finland.
The competition involved more than 230 athletes from 23 countries. The team of the Belarusian Armed Forces was represented by 18 athletes.
Our wrestlers won a total of 8 medals. Ivan Yankovsky and Yekaterina Yanushkevich won silver medals in freestyle wrestling in U96 kg and U55 kg weight categories respectively. Bronze medals were awarded to Vladislav Andreyev (U55 kg), Kamil Magomedov (U60 kg) and Alexei Isayev (U84) in freestyle wrestling, as well as to Elbek Tazhiyev (U55 kg), Valery Polensky (U74 kg) and Vladimir Berdik (U120 kg) in Greco-Roman wrestling.
The team of the Belarusian Armed Forces was placed 2nd in the medal ranking with just the Iranian team being the 1st.
18 August 2010
Session of Coordinating Committee
On 18-19 August, the chiefs of the NBC defence troops of the CIS member states are holding a Coordinating Committee session in Moscow.
This session also involves Colonel Yuri Pavlovich, chief of the NBC defence troops and chief of the NBC defence and ecology directorate, Belarusian General Staff.
The participants of the session will discuss the functioning of the United System of Control and Assessment of the NBC Environment and work out common approaches to the maintenance of its control and assessment.
Observation Flight
On 9-13 August 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces has taken part in an observation flight of the Belarusian-Russian mission over Poland on board the Russian AN-30B observation aircraft under the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight was to control military activities on the territory of the observed state.
13 August 2010
Working Meeting
On 10-12 August 2010, Almaty, Kazakhstan, hosted a working meeting of the representatives of the Belarusian and Kazakh armed forces, dedicated to cooperation in arms control.
Observation Flight
On 9-13 August 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces has taken part in an observation flight of the Belarusian-Russian mission over Poland on board the Russian AN-30B observation aircraft under the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight was to control military activities on the territory of the observed state.
Belarusians to Conduct Inspections in Poland
On 16-21 August 2010, a Belarusian inspection group is to verify two military units of the Polish armed forces (at the inspectors’ option), which are subject to control under provisions of the CFE. The inspectors will check if the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount.
10 August 2010
Belarusian Army Athlete Wins Bronze Medal
Warrant Officer Olga Leshchenko has won the only medal for the Belarusian national team at the European Judo Cup in Hamburg.
She became a bronze prizewinner in U48 kg weight category. Competing for a bronze medal, the Belarusian army athlete defeated Katarina Menz from Germany. Alina Dumitra from Romania won a gold medal and Aida Sarmiento from Spain got a silver one in this weight class.
Germany won the medal ranking with 6 gold, 2 silver and 9 bronze medals. It was followed by Holland and Romania. The Dutch athletes won 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals and Romanian athletes got 2 gold and 1 silver medal. The Belarusian team with 1 bronze medal finished 16th in the medal ranking.
Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence Units Conducting Exercise
The personnel of the Western and North-Western Operational-Tactical Commands, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence, have proceeded to the second stage of the tactical exercise.
The first stage was conducted at the units' permanent dispositions where the service members practiced transition from peacetime to wartime, preparing for and conducting combat operations during the repulse of airstrikes.
At the second stage of the exercise the grouping of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence will be redeployed to a new position area, the Alushuk range in Russia. The grouping will comprise the combat crews of the 15th, 115th, 120th and 302nd SAM brigades, as well as the 8th radio-technical brigade. The total strength of the Belarusian force will be around 650 people. The personnel and materiel will be redeployed by rail and by air.
At the third stage to be held on 20-26 August the Belarusian service members are to conduct field firing from the S-300, Buk and Osa SAM systems.
9 August 2010
Qatari Servicemen Complete Training at Belarusian Cynological Centre
On 9 August, the Qatari service members completed their training at the Cynological Centre of the Belarusian Armed Forces.
Ten service members of the Qatari Amiri Guard have completed a 6-month training course as cynologists in Belarus. The Cynological Centre of the Belarusian Armed Forces also trained service dogs for the Qatari armed forces.
Belarus Armed Forces have established a unique school of service dog breeding. A total of 2,000 dogs have been trained at the military Cynological Centre since the moment of its establishment, and over 2,500 service members have become professional cynologists. Since 2001 the centre offers various training and extension courses.
Today the centre trains professional cynologists and service dogs for mine detection, search and rescue, as well as search activities, including the detection of weapons, drugs and explosives, guard, patrol and other duties.
Since March 2009, the Cynological centre also trains specialists and service dogs for the Special Operations Forces for search, mine detection and reconnaissance operations. The ‘graduates’ of the centre showed their good skills during the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
More than 400 dogs and puppies from the centre have taken part in national and international dog shows. Some of the dogs have the titles of international champions, candidates to international champions, champions of Belarus and candidates to champions of Belarus, class and group winners in shows held by the World Canine Organisation (FCI).
6 August 2010
Belarus Army Commander Meets with His Polish Counterpart
On 4-6 August, a bilateral meeting between the commanders of the Belarusian Army and the Polish Land Force was held in Warsaw, Poland. The meeting was dedicated to the issues of combat training and was arranged under the plan of cooperation between the defence ministries for 2010.
The aim of the working meeting is to discuss the issues of combat training in the army and methods of operating training centres.
3 August 2010
Belarusian Service Members to Take Part in Peacekeeping Mission
On 2 August 2010, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 400 authorizing the dispatch of a peacekeeping force of the Belarusian Armed Forces to Lebanon to maintain international peace and security.
Under the decree, nine Belarusian service members will join the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
These service members are serving under a contract and willing to participate in the peacekeeping mission. All of them have gone through professional psychological tests and a comprehensive medical examination.
They will work in the staff of the Interim Force, military medical facilities and in civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) bodies. In order to be able to fulfill these tasks, they have received special training.
The future peacekeepers attended special courses at the Belarusian Military Academy, where they studied foreign languages, the basics of peacekeeping and international humanitarian law and improved their professional skills.
2 August 2010
Army Athlete Wins Gold Medal in World Championship
Lt. Col. Sergei Martynov has won a gold medal in the 50 m rifle prone men event at the ISSF World Shooting Championship, which is currently being held in Munich. His result was 104.9 points.
Lt. Col. Sergei Martynov is an honoured master of sports of Belarus, a bronze prizewinner of the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004, a repeated prizewinner of world and European championships, a World Cup holder, a world record-breaker and a prizewinner of world and European championships among service members (CISM).
The world shooting sports championship is to end on 11 August.
Observation Flight over Belarus
On 2-6 August, a Polish mission is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the Ukrainian An-30B observation aircraft within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight is to verify military activities on the territories of the observed states.
30 July 2010
7th Sports Contest of Friendly CIS Armies
The 7th sports contest of the friendly armies of the Commonwealth of Independent States has been held in St. Petersburg.
More than 300 army athletes from the CIS states took part in freestyle wrestling, shooting from standard weapon, kettlebell lifting, indoor soccer, multiathlon and swimming competitions.
25 Belarusian army athletes competed in four events, such as freestyle wrestling, shooting from standard weapon, multiathlon and kettlebell lifting. The Belarusians won medals in all these events.
On the whole, the team of the Belarusian Armed Forces got 11 medals including four gold, three silver and four bronze ones. Pv. Vladislav Andreyev, Pv. Ivan Yankovsky and Alexei Isayev became champions in freestyle wrestling. The Belarusian wrestlers also won a gold medal as a team, Pv. Andrei Komar got a silver one and Dmitry Sivakov and a WO Maxim Mikhalevich were awarded bronze ones.
Sr. Lt. Andrei Markevich won a silver medal in multiathlon, the Belarusian team won a silver medal in shooting from standard weapon (Kalashnikov assault rifle) and Sr. Lt. Vitaly Ryabtsev and Lt. Maxim Yaromsky were in third place in kettlebell lifting.
28 July 2010
Joint Tactical Exercise of Belarusian and Qatari Service Members
On 28 July, the 5th independent special purpose brigade hosted a joint tactical exercise between service members of the Belarusian Special Operations Forces and the State of Qatar. The manoeuvres were attended by Maj. Gen. Pyotr Tikhonovsky, Chief of the General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus, and Maj. Gen. Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, Chief of the General Staff, Qatar Armed Forces, who is currently on a visit to our country.
This exercise is another milestone in the development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
In October 2008 and March 2010 Belarusian service members took part in the Ferocious Falcon-2008 and Ferocious Falcon-2010 strategic exercises. The manoeuvres gave the Belarusian specialists the experience of building up a force from different units and specialists, which is vital for participation in humanitarian missions abroad and operating as part of a multinational force.
26 July 2010
Belarusian Team Becomes World Military Parachuting Champion!
The 35th World Military Parachuting Championship was held in Buochs, Switzerland on 15-25 July 2010. Athletes from 36 countries of the world took part in the competitions, held under the aegis of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).
The women's team of the Belarusian Armed Forces won the title of the world parachuting champion this year, leaving behind the teams from the USA (2nd place) and China (3rd place). Our team was headed by Sr. WO Alexei Kovalchuk and included Sr. WO Elena Yarmolchuk, Sr. Sgt. Lyudmila Gavrilenko, Sr. Sgt. Natalia Zimina, Pvt. 1st Class Natalia Nikityuk and Pvt. 1st Class Tatiana Nalivaiko. Our athletes were also first in acrobatic parachuting and second in accuracy jumps.
The captain of the Belarusian team Sr. WO Elena Yarmolchuk got three awards in individual contests. She won a silver medal in parachuting double-event and two bronze ones in acrobatic and accuracy parachuting.
23 July 2010
Observation Flight over Belarus
On 26-30 July, a U.S. mission is to make an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the ÎÑ-135Â aircraft within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight is to verify military activities on the territories of the observed states.
22 July 2010
Military Delegation from Qatar Visiting Belarus
On 22 July 2010, Maj. Gen. Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, Chief of the General Staff, Qatar Armed Forces, arrived in Belarus for a visit.
The head of the delegation from the State of Qatar will meet with Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin. In the course of the meeting the two sides are planning to discuss the issues of bilateral military cooperation and the prospects of its further development.
21 July 2010
Delegation from China Visits Belarus
On 22-24 July 2010, Gen. Jing Zhiyuan, member of the Central Military Commission and commander of the Second Artillery Force, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is to visit the Republic of Belarus.
In the course of the visit the members of the delegation from PLA will meet with Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin.
The Chinese service members will familiarise themselves with the structure and work of the Belarusian Military Academy and visit the academy’s combined-arms department and the 336th MLRS brigade.
16 July 2010
Observation Flight over Belarus
On 12-16 July, an Italian mission made an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the C-130J aircraft within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight is to verify military activities on the territories of the observed states.
Belarusian Inspection Group Visits Germany
On 12-16 July, a Belarusian inspection group visited two military units of the German Armed Forces within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspection the verifying party confirmed the correspondence of provided information, regarding the units’ armament and equipment.
12 July 2010
Observation Flight over Belarus
On 12-16 July, an Italian mission is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the C-130J aircraft within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight is to verify military activities on the territories of the observed states.
Belarusian Inspection Group to Visit Germany
On 14-16 July, a Belarusian inspection group is to visit two military units of the German Armed Forces (at the inspectors’ option) within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the visit the verifying party will assess correspondence of provided information, regarding the units’ armament and equipment.
5 July 2010
International Military Cooperation in the Spotlight
On 29-30 June, Vilnius hosted a four-party meeting of chiefs of international military cooperation agencies in Belarusian, Polish, Lithuanian and Ukrainian defence ministries. The Belarusian delegation was headed by chief of the international military cooperation directorate Col. Igor Zarovkin.
In the course of the meeting its participants discussed the prospects of multilateral military cooperation and shared their experience in organising peacekeeping activities.
Each delegation showed a presentation about its country's armed forces and their development prospects. The representatives of the Lithuanian and Polish ministries of national defence held a separate meeting, making speeches on The Current Issues and Challenges of Euro-Atlantic Security and The Experience Obtained in International Peacekeeping Operations.
Noteworthy is the fact that military cooperation between Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine from now on will be called the Minsk Initiative. The motion came from the Lithuanian side and was unanimously adopted by the participants. It was the Republic of Belarus that arranged the first working meeting like that in 2008.
The next four-party meeting of the kind will take place in the Republic of Poland in 2011.
1 July 2010
Delegation of Belarus Armed Forces Visits Poland
On 28-30 June, a delegation of the Belarusian Armed Forces, headed by the Chief of the General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus, Maj. Gen. Pyotr Tikhonovsky, visited Poland.
During the visit the head of the Belarusian military delegation met with the Chief of the Polish General Staff, Gen. Broni Mieczyslaw Cieniuch, Chairman of the Polish Sejm’s National Defence Committee Stanislaw Wziatek and Undersecretary of State for Defence Policy Zbigniew Wlowosicz. The parties discussed the issues of international and regional defence and further development of military cooperation between Belarus and Poland.
In the result of the negotiations General Staff chiefs decided to work out a plan of implementing the agreements, reached in the course of the visit.
29 June 2010
Delegation of Belarus Armed Forces Visiting Poland
On 28 June, a delegation of the Belarusian Armed Forces headed by the Chief of the General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus, Maj. Gen. Pyotr Tikhonovsky arrived in Poland under the Plan of Military Cooperation between the Belarusian Defence Ministry and the Polish National Defence Ministry. During the visit the parties will discuss the further development of military cooperation between Belarus and Poland. The Belarusian delegation will leave Poland on 30 June.
The aim of the visit is the strengthening of bilateral contacts in the military sphere and development of cooperation between the defence ministries of the two states.
Belarusian Inspectors Visit Ukraine
On 20-26 June, a Belarusian inspection group verified a specified area in Ukraine and the 1st independent tank brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces within the framework of the Agreement between the Belarusian Government and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on the Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. The inspectors confirmed that there was no large-scale military activity subject to preliminary notification under the provisions of the agreement in the area. They also confirmed information presented by Ukraine to the OSCE member states under the 1999 Vienna Document regarding the personnel and main materiel of the military unit.
Working Meeting of Belarusian and Ukrainian Military Experts
On 29 June – 1 July, Minsk is to host a working meeting between the experts of the Belarusian and Ukrainian armed forces. The aim of the meeting is to verify the implementation of the Agreement between the Belarusian Government and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on the Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. The Belarusian delegation will be headed by Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections.
25 June 2010
Libyan Military Representatives Take Part in Brigade Tactical Exercise in Belarus
On 15-19 June, the 230th combined-arms range hosted a tactical exercise with the 11th separate guards mechanised brigade.
The participants of the exercise practiced the congruence of their actions and improved the skills of officers in commanding the subordinate military units during the accomplishment of the service tasks.
Under the agreements reached during the meeting of Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, which was held within the framework of the visit of the Belarusian Defence Minister to Libya on 14-16 December 2009, and in order to share experience in the organisation of combat training, the brigade tactical exercise also involved a military unit from Libya.
On 10-17 June, within the framework of preparation for the exercise, the Libyan tank company had its marksmanship, combat vehicle driving and tactical training. After the preparation for the exercise had been finished, the Libyan military representatives took part in the active phase of the exercise.
24 June 2010
Military Delegation from Laos to Visit Belarus
On 24-27 June, a delegation of the People’s Army of Laos headed by Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Sanyahak Phomvihane will pay an official visit to Belarus.
During the visit the head of the military delegation from Laos will meet with the Chief of the General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus, Maj. Gen. Pyotr Tikhonovsky and discuss the issues of military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries.
The delegation will visit Belarusian defence enterprises and organisations, the National Academy of Sciences and the Belarusian Military Academy.
22 June 2010
International Competition of Special Purpose Reconnaissance Groups
On 21-25 June, the 5th independent special purpose brigade is hosting an international competition of special purpose reconnaissance groups. The competition involves groups from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Libya.
The recon groups will go through ten stages of the contest, including taking special training standards, landing of recon groups, arranging a halting day, laying an ambush, negotiating water obstacles, group field firing, etc.
21 June 2010
Trilateral Meeting in Brest
On 21-22 June, Brest is to host a trilateral meeting of the high-ranking officials of the Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian defence ministries. The meeting, dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, will involve Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Ezhel and Nikolai Pankov, state secretary, Deputy Defence Minister of Russia.
The parties will discuss the prospects of military cooperation between the three countries.
The delegates will also watch the premiere of the Brest Fortress movie, attend the Requiem meeting and lay wreaths to the Eternal Flame, a monument to the fallen defenders of the Brest Fortress.
Belarusian Inspectors to Visit Ukraine
On 20-26 June, a Belarusian inspection group is to visit a Ukrainian military unit and verify a specified area under the Agreement between the Belarusian Government and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. During the visit the inspectors will verify information, presented by Ukraine to the OSCE member states under the 1999 Vienna Document regarding the personnel and main materiel of the military unit. They will also confirm that no large-scale military activity subject to preliminary notification under the provisions of the Agreement is conducted in the area
18 June 2010
Belarusian Representative Takes Part in Annual Security Review Conference
On 14-16 June, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces took part in the Annual Security Review Conference, which was held in Vienna, Austria.
Norwegian Inspection Group Visits Belarus
On 14-17 June, a Norwegian inspection group visited Belarus under the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The inspectors verified the 6th separate mechanised brigade, which is subject to control under the provisions of the CFE. The inspection group proved that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount. Besides five Norwegian military inspectors, the inspection group included one inspector from Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and the USA each.
Session of Joint Consultative Group on Arms Control
On 15-18 June, Moscow hosted a session of the Joint Consultative Group on Arms Control within the framework of bilateral cooperation between Belarusian and Russian defence ministries. The participants of the session coordinated their positions and joint actions on implementing international arms control treaties. The Belarusian delegation in the negotiations was headed by Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections.
Austrian Inspection Group Visits Belarus
On 15-18 June, Austrian inspectors verified a specified area in Belarus under the 1999 Vienna Document. The aim of the inspection was to prove that no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document is conducted in the specified area. Besides three Austrian military inspectors, the inspection group included an inspector from Belgium.
14 June 2010
Belarusian Representative to Take Part in Annual Security Review Conference
On 14-16 June, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces is to take part in the Annual Security Review Conference, which will be held in Vienna, Austria.
Norwegian Inspection Group to Visit Belarus
On 14-17 June, a Norwegian inspection group is to visit Belarus under the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The inspectors will verify a military unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at the inspectors’ option), which is subject to control under the provisions of the Treaty. The aim of the inspection is prove that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount. Besides five Norwegian military inspectors, the Norwegian inspection group will include one inspector from Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and the USA each.
Observation Flight over Belarus
On 14-18 June, a joint French-German mission is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the Ñ-130Í observation aircraft under the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the observation flight is to control military activities on the territories of the observed states.
Session of Joint Consultative Group on Arms Control
On 15-18 June, Moscow is to host a session of the Joint Consultative Group on Arms Control within the framework of bilateral cooperation between Belarusian and Russian defence ministries. The participants of the session will coordinate their positions and joint actions on implementing international arms control treaties. The Belarusian delegation in the negotiations will be headed by Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections.
Observation Flight over Lithuania and Latvia
On 4-11 June 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces took part in an observation flight of Belarus and Russia over the territories of Lithuania and Latvia under the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight was to control military activities on the territories of the observed states.
Review Conference for Open Skies
On 7-9 June 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces took part in the 2nd Review Conference for the Open Skies Treaty, which was held in Vienna, Austria. The participants of the conference conducted a comprehensive review and evaluation of the implementation of the Open Skies Treaty and considered the issues of its implementation in modern conditions.
Representative of Belarus Armed Forces Takes Part in Inspections in France
On 7-11 June, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces took part in inspections of specified areas in France as a member of a Ukrainian inspection group. The inspections were held under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The inspectors proved that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount.
9 June 2010
Air Defence Troops Conducting Exercise in Western Operational Command
On 8-11 June, the 174th training range of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence is hosting an exercise with field firing of the air defence troops, Western Operational Command.
The aim of the exercise is to improve skills of commanders and air defence chiefs of the mechanised brigades, 62nd SAM brigade, mechanised and tank battalions in planning and conducting air defence when their subordinate units accomplish the service tasks assigned.
8 June 2010
Joint Training of Belarusian and Ukrainian Air Defence Duty Forces
On 8 June, the air defence duty forces of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence and the Ukrainian Air Force held a joint training.
The training involved the representatives of administrative bodies, combat crews of SAM and radio-technical troops, as well as the air crews of the two states.
The main goals of the training were to improve the interoperability of the air defence duty forces of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence and the Ukrainian Air Force when accomplishing combat duty tasks, the skills of command posts combat crews exercising command and control over air defence duty forces, as well as to test the main provisions of the Agreement between the Belarusian Defence Ministry and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry on the Exchange of Air Traffic Information.
7 June 2010
Observation Flight over Lithuania and Latvia
On 4-11 June 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces is taking part in an observation flight of the Belarus-Russian mission over Lithuania and Latvia on board the Russian AN-30B observation aircraft under the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight is to control military activities on the territories of the observed states.
Belarusian Inspector Visiting France
On 4-14 June 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces is taking part in verifying specified areas in France as a member of Ukrainian inspection group within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspection it is planned to verify two military units of the French armed forces (at the inspectors’ option), which are subject to control under CFE. The aim of the inspection is to prove that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount.
Review Conference for Open Skies Treaty
On 6-10 June 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces is taking part in the 2nd Review Conference for the Open Skies Treaty, which is being held in Vienna, Austria. The participants of the conference will review and evaluate the implementation of the Open Skies Treaty and consider the issues of its implementation.
3 June 2010
Lithuanian Military Delegation to Visit Belarus
On 3-4 July, a Lithuanian military delegation headed by Brigadier General Arturas Leita, commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, is to visit Belarus under the Plan of International Military Cooperation for 2010.
During the visit the parties will consider the implementation of the Agreement between the Belarusian Defence Ministry and the Lithuanian Defence Ministry on the Exchange of Air Traffic Information, as well as further development of cooperation in airspace control.
2 June 2010
Preparation for Joint Exercise
Belarusian and Russian armed forces continue to prepare for the joint exercise which is to be conducted in 2011.
Under the plan of preparation for the exercise, a group of officers of the Belarusian General Staff headed by Major General Vladimir Sulimov, deputy chief of the General Staff, chief of the main operations directorate, has arrived in Russia today.
In conjunction with their Russian colleagues Belarusian service members will reconnoiter the Gorokhovetsky Range, which is one of the areas of the future exercise.
Considering the results of the reconnoitering the service members will specify the actions of the troops at this range during the exercise.
28 May 2010
Belarus to Host European Conference of International Military Sports Council
Belarus has acquired the right to host the European Conference of International Military Sports Council which will be held in the autumn of 2011. This decision was taken at the 65th General Assembly of the council in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Ukrainian Inspectors Finish Their Visit to Belarus
On 24-28 May, a Ukrainian inspection group has verified a specified area in Belarus and conducted an evaluation visit to the 38th separate mobile brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces under the Agreement between the Belarusian Government and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. The inspectors confirmed that no large-scale military activity subject to preliminary notification under the Agreement is conducted in the specified area. They also confirmed the information presented by Belarus to the OSCE member states under the 1999 Vienna Document concerning the personnel and the main materiel systems of the visited military unit.
Bilateral Meeting of Belarusian and German Military Representatives
On 31 May – 2 June, the city of Geilenkirchen, Germany, is to host a bilateral meeting of the Belarusian and German military representatives, dedicated to cooperation in arms control. The Belarusian delegation will be headed by Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections.
Observation Flight over Belarus
On 1-4 June, a Canadian mission is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia on board the S-130N observation aircraft under the Open Skies Treaty. The aim of the flight is to control military activities on the territory of the observed states.
26 May 2010
Command and Staff Exercise with 19th Separate Mechanised Brigade
On 25-27 May, the North-Western Operational Command of the Belarusian Armed Forces is to host a command and staff exercise of the 19th guards separate mechanised brigade.
The main goal of the exercise is to prepare the officers for the accomplishment of their service tasks.
The exercise will also involve the representatives of territorial defence departments of military commissariats situated in the Minsk, Vitebsk and Grodno regions.
25 May 2010
Ukrainian Inspection Group Working in Belarus
On 24-28 May, a Ukrainian inspection group, headed by Colonel Igor Turansky, is verifying a specified area in Belarus and conducting an evaluation visit to the 38th separate mobile brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces under the Agreement between the Belarusian Government and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. The aims of the verification activities are to confirm that no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document is conducted in the specified area and to evaluate information presented by Belarus to the OSCE member states under the 1999 Vienna Document concerning the personnel and the main materiel systems of the visited military unit.
20 May 2010
Russian Defence Minister to Visit Belarus
On 25 May 2010, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is to visit Belarus under the plan of bilateral cooperation between Belarusian and Russian defence ministries.
During the visit the Russian Defence Minster will meet with his Belarusian counterpart Yuri Zhadobin.
On 25 May, the defence ministers will take part in a regular session of the Joint Board of the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries, where they will consider the state and further development of the Belarus-Russian military cooperation.
19 May 2010
Academic Song and Dance Ensemble Becomes Prisewinner of International Music Festival
The choir of the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Belarusian Armed Forces took the third place in the 21st international festival titled Khainovka Days of Church Music , which was held in Poland. The festival involved more than 50 musical bands from many countries.
17 May 2010
Belarusian Defence Minister Visits China
Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin finished his official visit to China.
During the visit he met with the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Colonel General Xu Caihou, and conducted negotiations with a member of the Central Military Commission and the State Council, the Defence Minister of China, Colonel General Liang Guanglie. In the course of the negotiations the parties discussed the issues of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation. They also signed the Agreement on Military Cooperation between the Belarusian and the Chinese Defence Ministries.
The members of the Belarusian delegation laid wreaths to the Monument to People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square, visited a military unit of the Beijing Garrison and the peacekeeping centre of the People’s Liberation Army of China.
Command and Staff Military Game of Signal Troops
On 18-20 May 2010, it is planned to conduct a command and staff military game of signal troops under the Belarusian Armed Forces Training Plan.
In the course of the game the service members will practice to provide signals during the actions of the regional joint force and interaction with the Ministry of Communications and Informatisation and other Belarusian state authorities using the telecommunication network of common use and special telecommunication networks of other Belarusian troops and military units.
A task force of the Russian Armed Forces will also take part in the military game.
14 May 2010
Belarusian Military Representatives to Verify Specified Areas in Slovakia and Czech Republic
On 17-20 May 2010, Belarusian inspectors are to verify specified areas in Slovakia and Czech Republic under the 1999 Vienna Document. The aim of the inspections is to confirm that no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document is conducted in the specified areas. Belarusian inspection group will also include Russian inspectors. Belarusian inspectors, in their turn, will be included in Russian inspection groups, which will verify the specified areas on the territories of the above mentioned states.
Slovak Inspection Group to Visit Belarus
On 17-20 May 2010, a Slovak inspection group is to conduct an inspection in Belarus under the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The inspectors will verify a military unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at their option) subjected to control under the provisions of the CFE. The aim of the inspection is to prove that the actual amount of materiel limited by the CFE coincides with the declared figures. Besides five military inspectors from Slovakia, the inspection group will include one inspector from Great Britain, Luxembourg and Romania each.
Observation Flight of Polish Mission
On 17-21 May 2010, a mission of the Republic of Poland is to conduct an observation flight over Belarus and Russia under the Open Skies Treaty. The flight will be conducted on board the Ukrainian AN-30B observation aircraft in order to control military activities on the territories of the observed states.
13 May 2010
Delegation of Military Attaches to Visit Belarus
On 13-14 May, a delegation of military attaches accredited to the Lithuanian Defence Ministry and Polish Defence Ministry is to visit Belarus. The delegation includes American, British, Dutch, Romanian, Danish, Polish, Czech, Chinese, Japanese, South Korean and other military attaches.
The members of the delegation will familiarise themselves with the traditions and culture of the Belarusian nation, results and prospects of the development of the Belarusian Armed Forces. The foreign guests will also visit the Belarusian Military Academy and the National Library and familiarise themselves with the places of interest and monuments in Minsk.
12 May 2010
Official Visit of Belarusian Defence Minister to China
Today Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin has started his official visit to the People’s Republic of China.
In the course of the visit the Belarusian Defence Minister will conduct negotiations with his Chinese counterpart, Colonel General Liang Guanglie.
The parties will also discuss the further development of bilateral military cooperation.
The members of the Belarusian delegation will take part in the ceremony of laying wreaths to the Monument to People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square, visit a military unit of the Beijing Garrison and the peacekeeping centre of the People’s Liberation Army of China.
Flight Safety Services of Belarus and Russian Armed Forces to Hold Working Meeting
On 12-13 May, the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence command is to host a working meeting of the flight safety services of the Belarusian and Russian Armed Forces. Lieutenant General Sergei Bainetov, chief of the Flight Safety Service, Russian Armed Forces, and Colonel Andrei Gryaznov, deputy chief of a department, chief of a group of the Flight Safety Service, Russian Armed Forces, will represent the Russian delegation.
The participants of the meeting will discuss the issues of flight safety.
It is also planned to coordinate and sign the protocol on formation and work of joint groups which will control flight safety during bilateral exercises.
Academic Song and Dance Ensemble to Take Part in International Music Festival
On 13-17 May, the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Khainovka, Poland, is to host the international festival titled Khainovka Days of Church Music. The Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Belarusian Armed Forces will take part in the festival.
7 May 2010
Belarusian Military Representative Takes Part in Observation Flight
On 4-8 May 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces took part in an observation flight of Belarus and Russia over the territory of Poland on board the Russian AN-30B observation aircraft under the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty. The participants of the flight controlled military activities on the territory of the observed state.
3 May 2010
Belarusian Military Representative to Take Part in Observation Flight over Poland
On 4-8 May 2010, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces is to take part in an observation flight of Belarus and Russia over the territory of Poland on board the Russian AN-30B observation aircraft. In the course of the flight the Belarusian and Russian observers will control military activities on the territory of the observed state.
26 April 2010
Competition of Sniper Teams
On 26-30 April, the 38th separate guards mobile brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces is hosting a competition of sniper teams. The competition involves 16 teams including the ones of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Qatar. The sniper team of the Alpha group also takes part in it. For the first time the representatives of the German armed forces will observe the competition.
The main goals of this contest are to evaluate the infantry and field skills of the scout snipers and their readiness for accomplishing intelligence and special tasks in severe environment, to improve the marksmanship and tactical-special training, to generalize the advanced experience and procedures of the training and to improve the sniper materiel.
The competition will determine the prizewinners in the Sniper Team and Scout Sniper categories.
Since 2003 the competition of sniper teams has been held annually in different military units of the special operations forces, Belarusian Armed Forces. In 2004 this contest acquired an international format. Since then it has involved the representatives of the armed forces of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
High Awards
According to the press service of the head of state, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko awarded 3rd class orders For the Service to the Motherland to officers for the high professionalism and exemplary fulfillment of service duties. The awardees are Victor Krashevsky, chief of the main intelligence directorate, deputy chief of the General Staff; Alexei Leonov, commander of the 1199th MLRS regiment, Western Operational Command, Belarusian Army; and Sergei Trus, deputy chief of the main staff, chief of operations directorate, main staff of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence.
16 April 2010
Belarusian Inspection Group Visits Latvia and Lithuania
On 12-16 April 2010, a Belarusian inspection group verified certain specified areas in Latvia and Lithuania under the 1999 Vienna Document. The inspectors confirmed that there was no military activity subject to preliminary notification there.
Italian Inspection Group to Visit Belarus
On 20-23 April 2010, an Italian inspection group is to verify a specified area in Belarus under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The aim of the inspection is to confirm that there are no conventional arms limited by the Treaty in the specified area except those in the military units subject to control. Besides six Italian military inspectors, the inspection group will include one inspector from Belgium, Greece and Netherlands each.
Belarusian Inspectors to Visit Austria and Hungary
On 18-23 April 2010, Belarusian inspectors are to verify specified areas in Austria and Hungary. The aim of the inspection is to confirm that there is no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document. Belarusian inspection groups will also include Russian inspectors. Belarusian inspectors, in their turn, will go together with Russian inspection groups to verify the specified areas in Austria and Hungary.
Russian Defence Minister to Visit Belarus
On 21 April 2010, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is to pay a working visit to Belarus under the plan of bilateral cooperation between Belarusian and Russian defence ministries.
In the course of the visit the Russian Defence Minister will meet with his Belarusian colleague Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin.
On 21 April, the defence ministers will take part in a regular session of the Joint Collegium of the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries where they will consider the state and further development of Belarus-Russian military cooperation.
14 April 2010
Defence Ministers of CIS States Meet
On 14 April, Moscow has hosted a regular session of the Council of the Defence Ministers of the CIS States. Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin also took part in this event.
In the course of the session the Belarusian Defence Minister held bilateral meetings with the defence ministers of other CIS states.
Military Parade Dedicated to 200th Anniversary of Bolivarian Revolution
The representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces are to take part in the military parade dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Bolivarian Revolution which will be held on 19 April 2010 in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.
During the parade the guard of honour of the Belarusian Armed Forces will march together with Venezuelan military units. It is also planned to organise a parade ground concert.
10 April 2010
Condolences by Belarusian Defence Minister to Polish Minister of National Defence
Dear Minister!
Please accept my condolences on the tragic death of the President of Poland Lech Kaczynski and his spouse, as well as Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces
General F. Gagor, Vice Minister, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of National Defence S. Komorowski and a group of high-ranking generals of the Polish Armed Forces:
Air Force Commander Lieutenant General A. Blasik;
Land Forces Commander Major General T. Buk;
Navy Commander Vice Admiral A. Karweta;
Operational Commander Lieutenant General B. Kwiatkowski;
Special Forces Commander Major General W. Potasinski;
Field Bishop of the Polish Armed Forces Major General Tadeusz Ploski;
Chief Orthodox Chaplain Archbishop Brigade General M. Chodakowski;
Commander of the Warsaw Garrison Brigade General K. Gilarski;
My heart is filled with great sorrow to realise the death of all the members of the delegation accompanying the President of Poland, as well as the crew.
With their death Poland has lost its devoted sons, who had dedicated their whole lives to serving Motherland and had strongly contributed to strengthening the authority of the country and its armed forces on the world arena.
This heavy loss is a strike to the whole Belarusian people.
Please pass my deep sympathy to relatives and friends of those who have passed away.
Belarusian Minister of Defence
Lieutenant General Yu. Zhadobin
9 April 2010
Monument to Belarusian Military Pilots to Be Unveiled in Poland
On 11 April, representatives of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence are to take part in the unveiling of a monument to Belarusian military pilots Colonel Alexander Zhuravlevich and Colonel Alexander Marfitsky in Radom, Poland.
The monument will be opened at the place of the tragic event, which took place in September 2009 during the Radom-2009 international air show. That day the pilots were performing aerobatic flights, decided not to catapult and led the aircraft away from the settlement. That way they prevented graver consequences at the cost of their lives.
Following a relevant President’s decree, the pilots were awarded the order For Personal Courage for their brave and decisive actions under the circumstances posing risk to life.
6 April 2010
Representative of Belarus Armed Forces to Participate in CSTO Parliamentary Assembly
On 5-6 April, under the action plan of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), St. Petersburg is hosting a session of a working group, developing legislature on the status of service members of CSTO's Collective Rapid Reaction Force, as well as a meeting of the expert-advisory board of CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council. On 7 April, the city will also host an international parliamentary conference, dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Colonel Igor Cherkasov, deputy chief of the legal support directorate, Belarusian Defence Ministry, will take part in these activities.
Venezuelan Delegation to Visit Belarusian Military Academy
On 7-8 April, the Belarusian Military Academy will receive a delegation from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The delegation will be headed by the chief of the Venezuelan Military Academy, Brigade General Alexis Lopez Ramirez.
The guests will familiarise themselves with the training process in the Belarusian Military Academy and the training facilities of the country's leading military school.
29 March 2010
Landing on Airfield Road Section
On 1 April, the 2nd air squadron of the 206th attack airbase is to conduct flights with landing on an airfield road section under the concept of the tactical flight exercise.
These flights will be held in order to practice using roads as alternative airfields and dispersal fields and to train the pilots to do that.
The flights over the airfield road section will involve the aircraft, equipment and crews of the 206th attack airbase and the 927th fighter airbase, North-Western Operational-Tactical Command, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence.
The flights will be supported by various military units and services of the Air Force and Air Defence. The signal troops will provide radiocommunication and the radio-technical troops will ensure radar control of the flights and deliver radar data to air combat operations control centres.
The military will cooperate with civil authorities in order to make the landings successful.
27 March 2010
Chief of Belarusian General Staff to Visit Qatar
On 28 March – 1 April, Major General Piotr Tikhonovsky, chief of the General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus, is to visit Qatar.
In the course of the visit Piotr Tikhonovsky will meet with his Qatari counterpart Major General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah, as well as with the Belarusian service members who took part in the multinational Ferocious Falcon exercise.
Major General Piotr Tikhonovsky will familiarise himself with the results of the exercise and proposals on resolving crisis situations and discuss the prospects of developing military cooperation with the Qatari armed forces.
In addition, the chief of the Belarusian General Staff will take part in the 2nd DIMDEX-2010 international maritime defence exhibition, held in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The exhibition will be attended by representatives from defence ministries of Middle Eastern states, as well as West European and CIS countries.
Belarusian-Qatari military cooperation enhances partnership relations between the countries, positively influences the Qatari business community and stimulates further development of Belarusian-Qatari economic relations.
26 March 2010
Arms Control Activities
On 23-26 March 2010, German and Polish inspection groups visited Belarus under the provisions of CFE.
The inspectors verified the 1868th artillery base and the 206th assault airbase, which are objects of control under CFE.
The foreign inspectors proved that the actual amount of materiel limited by the Treaty coincides with the declared figures.
Within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document a Belarusian inspection group inspected a specified area in Germany.
The Belarusian inspectors confirmed that no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document is conducted in the area.
22 March 2010
Implementation of International Arms Control Treaties
On 23-26 March 2010, it is planned to conduct a number of activities connected with implementing international arms control treaties:
a German inspection group is to visit Belarus under the provisions of CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe). The inspectors will verify a military unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at the inspectors’ option), which is subject to control under CFE. The aim of the inspection is to prove that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount. Besides eight German military inspectors, the inspection group will include an inspector from the USA;
a Polish inspection group is to visit Belarus under the provisions of CFE. The inspectors will verify a military unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at the inspectors’ option), which is subject to control under CFE. The aim of the inspection is to prove that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount. Besides five Polish military inspectors, the inspection group will include two inspectors from Belgium and an inspector from Canada and the USA each;
a Belarusian inspection group will verify a specified area in Germany within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document. The aim of the inspection is to confirm the absence of military activity, subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document, in the specified area.
Observation Flight over Belarus and Russia
On 22-26 March 2010, a Norwegian mission is to conduct an observation flight over Belarusian and Russian territories within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The flight will be conducted on board the Romanian AN-30B observation aircraft.
17 March 2010
Bilateral Staff Military Game
On 16-18 March, the operational-tactical training centre of the Belarusian Military Academy is hosting a bilateral staff military game under the direction of Major General I.P. Azaryonok in accordance with the plan of the Air Force and Air Defence training.
The game involves the officials of the Air Force and Air Defence command, teaching staff and cadets of the General Staff department of the Belarusian Military Academy and officers of the Research Institute of the Belarusian Armed Forces.
The participants of the military game will work out the issues of planning and application of the Air Force and Air Defence and proposals on improving the efficiency of repulsing air strikes.
In order to achieve the aims of the game its participants studied the opening situation and trained to accomplish the tasks of the game in advance.
This bilateral staff military game will help the officials of the Air Force and Air Defence command to improve their skills in simulating combat operations and using electronic maps.
15 March 2010
Military-Technical Cooperation within CSTO
On 17-18 March 2010, Minsk is to host a scientific conference titled Maintenance of Materiel Acquired within the Framework of the CSTO Member States’ Military-Technical Cooperation.
The conference will involve the representatives of the secretariat and joint staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and armed forces of Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
The participants of the conference will discuss and generalize their experience in the maintenance of materiel, acquired in the armies of the CSTO member states, work out the ways of its improvement in the armed forces and at the factory and visit the State Military Industrial Committee, a number of Belarusian defence enterprises and a weapon arsenal.
12 March 2010
Belarusian Inspection Group to Visit France
On 15-20 March 2010, a Belarusian inspection group will verify two military units of the French armed forces (at the inspectors' option) within the framework of CFE. The inspectors will check whether the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount.
French Inspection Group to Visit Belarus
On 14-21 March, a French inspection group is to visit Belarus within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). The inspectors will verify two military units of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at the inspectors’ option) which are subject to control under CFE. The aim of the inspection is to prove that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount.
Meeting of Joint Consultative Group on Arms Control
On 16-19 March 2010, the Joint Consultative Group on Arms Control will hold a meeting in Minsk within the framework of bilateral cooperation between the Belarusian and Russian defence ministries. The Russian delegation will be headed by a representative of the National Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre, Colonel Sergei Zabello. The parties will coordinate their positions and joint actions on implementing international arms control treaties.
9 March 2010
Belarus Military Representatives Visiting Estonian Army Unit
On 9-10 March 2010, the representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces are visiting a unit of the Estonian army within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document. Such visits are organised for the OSCE member states every five years.
Observation flight
On 11-13 March 2010, the German-Latvian mission is to conduct an observation flight over the territory of Belarus and Russia in order to control military activities within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The fight will be conducted on board the Romanian AN-30B observation aircraft.
5 March 2010
Belarus Military Delegation Visits Hungary
On 23-26 February 2010, a delegation of the Belarusian Defence Ministry headed by Colonel Igor Zarovkin, chief of the directorate for international military cooperation, paid a visit to Hungary.
The members of the Belarusian delegation held consultations with officials from the Hungarian Defence Ministry, specified the lines of future military cooperation and signed the Action Plan for Bilateral Military Cooperation in 2010.
The representatives of the Belarusian Defence Ministry familiarised themselves with the reforms carried out in the Hungarian armed forces, visited Zrinyi Miklos National Defence University where Belarusian service members learn Hungarian, as well as the Hungarian Defence Ministry's Institute and Museum of Military History.
2 March 2010
New Appointments
According to the Belarusian President’s press service, Alexander Lukashenko has made a number of important appointments in the Armed Forces.
Major General Oleg Zemskov was appointed chief of rocket troops and artillery of the Armed Forces, chief of the General Staff directorate for rocket troops and artillery, leaving the post of chief of the main staff, first deputy commander of the Army. The vacant position was occupied by Colonel Igor Matrashilo.
Major General Igor Lavrinenko was appointed first deputy chief of the General Staff. His former post of chief of the main organisation and mobilisation directorate was given to Colonel Sergei Kuprik.
1 March 2010
Turkmenian Military Delegation Visits Belarus
On 20-27 February, Belarus received a delegation of the Turkmenian Armed Forces, headed by Begench Gundogdyyev, first deputy Defence Minister, chief of the General Staff, Turkmenian Armed Forces.
The guests visited Belarusian defence plants, a number of Air Force and Air Defence units and met with senior officials from the Defence Ministry, Air Force and Air Defence, as well as the Belarusian State Military-Industrial Committee.
Working Meeting of Belarusian and Lithuanian Experts
On 24-26 February 2010, Vilnius hosted a working meeting of experts from the Belarusian and Lithuanian engaged in implementing the bilateral Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the 1999 Vienna Document. The experts estimated the implementation of the Agreement in 2009 and agreed on recommendations concerning further activities in the sphere.
National Agency for Control and Inspections Holds Training Session
On 25-26 February 2010, the National Agency for Control and Inspections held a training session with officers, engaged in implementing the Open Skies Treaty. The participants summarised the implementation of the Treaty by Belarus and Russia in 2009 and set the tasks for 2010. The training session was attended by Lieutenant Colonel Arslan Shaniyazov from the Russian National Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre.
Belarusian Defence Ministry’s Representative to Take Part in 20th AIAM
On 2-3 March 2010, Vienna will host the 20th Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting of the 1999 Vienna Document of the Negotiations on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. Primary attention will be paid to practical and problematic issues of implementing the document by the OSCE member states. The Belarusian Defence Ministry will be represented by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections.
Partnership for Peace
On 28 February, a delegation from the NATO headquarters arrived in Belarus.
The main purpose of the visit is to conduct consultations on Belarus's participation in the Planning and Review Process of the NATO Partnership for Peace programme, as well as to summarise the implementation of the partnership goals adopted in 2008 and discuss the aims for 2010.
The two parties will hold a number of working meetings and consultations.
On 2 March, Major General Alexander Anisimov, secretary of state, assistant to the Defence Minister on military policy, will meet with the head of the delegation Frank Boland, chief of Force Planning Section at NATO's Defense Planning and Operations Division.
The aim of the Planning and Review Process of the NATO Partnership for Peace programme is to familiarize the partners with NATO defence planning and achieve operational interoperability between NATO and its partners for conducting multinational combat training, exercises and operations in conjunction with NATO forces.
The main principles of PFP imply that the partner states have the right to decide on their own what level of cooperation with NATO and participation in the Process they prefer.
18 out of 22 partner states are currently participating in PFP.
Belarus completed the procedures of joining the programme in January 2006 after our country and NATO had approved the aims of the partnership and PFP’s Review Document.
The new list of the partnership aims were adopted by Belarus and NATO in December 2008.
In 2009, within the framework of the participation of Belarus in the Planning and Review Process, the Defence Ministry organised field training sessions and a tactical special exercise for the peacekeeping company of the 120th independent mobile brigade, Belarusian service members attended special courses in the Belarusian Military Academy and abroad and met with representatives of foreign (Lithuanian, Polish, German) armed forces to learn their experience in conducting multinational operations.
19 February 2010
Inspection in Poland
On 16-18 February 2010, a Belarusian inspection group verified a specified area in Poland within the framework of the1999 Vienna Document. The inspectors confirmed that there was no military activity subject to preliminary notification in the specified area.
Working Meeting of Belarusian and Lithuanian Armed Forces Experts
On 24-26 February 2010, Vilnius will host a working meeting of the Belarusian and Lithuanian armed forces experts dedicated to the implementation of the bilateral Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the 1999 Vienna Document. The participants of the meeting will evaluate the implementation of the Agreement in 2009 and coordinate recommendations on the further implementation of the specified confidence- and security-building measures.
17 February 2010
Belarusian Service Members Receive State Awards
According to the Belarusian President's press service, 33 citizens of the country have received state awards for exemplary discharge of their duties, considerable achievements in scientific and educational work, law enforcement and an important contribution to the development of motor transport, culture and art, following a relevant President's decree.
The list of awardees includes a number of service members as well.
Major General Ivan Dyrman received the Second Class Motherland Service Order and Major Sergei Mikhailov was awarded the Third Class Motherland Service Order.
The medal For Distinguished Military Service was given to Major General Sergei Potapenko, Colonel Pavel Muraveiko, Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Alekseyev and Senior Lieutenant Aleksei Chernukha.
12 February 2010
Skiing Trip Dedicated to 65th Anniversary of Great Victory
On 9 February, a skiing trip through Nizhny Novgorod - Pskov - Polotsk - Vitebsk - Smolensk - Moscow began. The skiers will visit the sites of the heroic past of the Belarusian and Russian peoples. This event is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 80th anniversary of the Airborne Troops.
On 13-16 February, the skiing trip is to go along the Belarusian territory. Its participants will meet with veterans, young people, service members and amuse the public with shows and concerts. They will also attend the ceremony of taking the oath by conscripts in a Polotsk-based military unit, give a concert in the 103rd guards independent mobile brigade and visit the Vitebsk Museum of Soldiers-Internationalists, Island of Courage and Sorrow in Minsk and Stalin's Line.
Conscripts to Take the Oath
On 13 February 2010, Belarusian military units will host solemn ceremonies in the course of which new conscripts will take the oath of allegiance. The ceremonies will be attended by representatives of the Belarusian Defence Ministry, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, as well as veterans and the conscripts' families and friends.
About 6,500 draftees will pronounce the oath of allegiance on this day.
The Belarusian Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin, will attend the ceremony in the 72nd guards united training center for warrant officers and specialists.
10 February 2010
15th Anniversary of CIS Air Defence
On 10 February, the United Air Defence of the Commonwealth of Independent States (UAD CIS) marks its 15th anniversary.
The establishment of the CIS united air defence system was first discussed on 30 November 1994 at a scientific conference involving defence ministers of the CIS member states.
On 10 February 1995, leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine signed a relevant agreement. Today we can say for sure this launched the process of integration and establishment of close allied relations in the military sphere between them, making the air defence issue one of the key directions.
The Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence is currently represented in UAD CIS by fighter, SAM and radio-technical units.
Since 1995 the troops on the air defence duty have been participating in multilateral command and staff trainings and accomplishing a broad range of tasks. The forces involved include combat crews, command posts and materiel on air defence duty.
As a logic further step, the defence ministries have established a joint combat AD duty, aimed at guarding external CIS borders.
Belarusian and Russian air defence troops were the first to go on the joint duty on 1 April 1996. After the trilateral Instruction on Joint Actions of Air Defence Duty Troops had been signed, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan joined them. Besides these countries, Armenian and Uzbek air defence forces are also on joint combat AD duty. This combat duty system reliably guards the air borders of our countries and controls their airspace.
Up to 400 aircraft cross the air space of our countries every day. The majority of them are transit ones and belong to both state and private airlines.
On 27 February 1996, the Belarusian and Russian defence ministries signed the Agreement on Allocating Russian Military Ranges to Belarusian Air Defence Units for Conducting Field Firing.
This allowed Belarusian AD units to conduct tactical exercises with field firings at Russian ranges and enhance cooperation capabilities within UAD CIS.
In 2010, the agreement went through some changes that facilitated regular employment of Belarusian aviation at Russian military ranges.
A total of 80 SAM battalions, up to 70 crews of fighter, assault and bomber aviation and about 14 CIS military units have taken part in all the 'Boyevoye Sodruzhestvo' exercises, held since 1998. Officers and warrant officers of all Belarusian SAM units have received unique experience in field firing. Over these 14 years all the Belarusian SAM units have repeatedly conducted field firing at Russian and Belarusian ranges, and over 3,000 personnel got the necessary practice there.
The United Air Defence of CIS is an important element of the Collective Security Treaty, which has been implemented in practice and has long-term prospects.
29 January 2010
Belarusian Defence Minister Visiting Russia
Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin is paying an official visit to Russia. The Belarusian and Russian defence ministers and the two delegations held an open dialogue on the present state of Belarus-Russian military cooperation and its further development.
The two parties also discussed the issues of bilateral cooperation in air force and air defence, joint use of military infrastructure, the functioning of the regional joint force and its further development, training of military personnel and cooperation in the information sphere.
The participants of the meeting reached important agreements, aimed at achieving practical results.
The defence ministers signed a Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement between the Belarusian Defence Ministry and the Russian Defence Ministry on Allocating Russian Military Ranges to Belarusian Air Defence Units for Conducting Field Firing.
The amendments will allow Belarusian air units to use Russian military ranges for exercises with field firing in conjunction with the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence, as well as with the Russian Air Force.
The defence ministers approved the Plan of Bilateral Cooperation between the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries for 2010. This document traditionally covers a wide range of organisational and practical activities of bilateral military cooperation.
28 January 2010
Checking Readiness for New Training Year
On 26-29 January, Belarusian command and control bodies and military units are being checked in terms of their readiness for the new training year under the Armed Forces Training Plan for 2010.
It is being checked how they carry out preparatory activities and planning documents and whether their operational and combat training goes in line with the tasks assigned. Officers receive practical help in organising and starting the training year.
The superior bodies will make sure that the training facilities, military hardware and logistic reserves are ready and evaluate the state of military discipline, routine duty, legal work and labour safety.
The new training year in the Armed Forces begins on 1 February and ends on 30 November.
The main tasks of the training are stipulated in the relevant documents and orders of the chief of the General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus. They include the issues of upholding combat and mobilisation readiness, improving the skills and interoperability of command and control bodies and troops, combat training efficiency and implementing the Belarusian Armed Forces Development Plan for 2006-2010.
27 January 2010
Defence Minister Meets with Leaders of Belarusian Officers Union
On 27 January, Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin met with the leaders of the Belarusian Officers Union.
The two sides discussed the issues of cooperation between the Defence Ministry and one of the largest NGOs of the country.
The chairman of the Belarusian Officers Union, Yevgeny Mikulchik, told the Defence Minister about the results of the union's work and its development prospects.
The Belarusian Defence Minister pointed out the importance of the union's public activities and said that it was necessary to keep consolidating retired officers for the benefit of ensuring national security, promoting patriotic education and preserving the best traditions of Belarusian officers.
25 January 2010
Belarusian Military Delegation to Take Part in Session of Euro-Atlantic Partnership Military Committee
On 25 January, the representatives of the Belarusian Defence Ministry left for Brussels under the Individual Partnership Programme of Belarus and NATO for 2010-2111. The delegation is headed by Major General Pyotr Tikhonovsky, chief of the General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus.
The Belarusian delegation will take part in a session of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Military Committee and discuss with the representatives of the NATO member states the activities of Belarus within the framework of the Partnership for Peace programme.
The Republic of Belarus joined the Partnership for Peace Programme in 1995. Today the programme is an essential part of European security. Rapidly developing since 1994, Partnership for Peace involves 28 NATO member states and 22 partner states, has a flexible structure and includes a number of cooperation initiatives, allowing to adapt it to the peculiarities of this or that region or country.
Participating in the programme, Belarus develops cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the benefit of ensuring its national security.
22 January 2010
Training Session with Officers Engaged in Implementing International Arms Control Treaties
The Belarusian National Agency for Control and Inspections has held a training session with officers from armed services, operational (operational-tactical) commands, military units and organisations of the Defence Ministry, who are engaged in implementing international arms control treaties. In the course of the training session the organisers summarised the activities of assisting foreign inspectors in Belarus in 2009 and set tasks for 2010.
15 January 2010
Belarusian Inspection Group Visits German Military Unit
On 12-14 January 2010, a Belarusian inspection group verified a German military unit within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. In the course of the visit the inspectors confirmed the information, presented by Germany to the OSCE member states under the 1999 Vienna Document regarding the personnel and main materiel of the military unit.
14 January 2010
Complex Training Session with Belarusian Ideology Officers
A complex training session with ideology officers of the Belarusian Armed Forces has begun in the Belarusian Military Academy today. The training session involves deputy commanders for ideological work, commanders, enlistment officers, heads of military schools and organisations, as well as officers, involved in social-psychological and social-cultural spheres and students of the Military Academy.
The participants of the training session met with Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin. In his speech the Minister of Defence covered the priority aspects of military activity in the current military-political environment. He drew the attention of the ideology officers to the importance of ideological bodies for combat training in 2010.
Under the agenda, the participants of the training session will analyse the state and efficiency of ideological work in the Armed Forces and consider the issues of its further improvement. The ideological officers will also familiarise themselves with modern and new forms and methods of social-psychological and cultural work, information and propaganda activities, family education, ways of strengthening discipline and law enforcement in the army and ensuring security of military service.
6 January 2010
Belarus Inspection Group to Visit German Military Unit
On 12-14 January 2010, a Belarusian inspection group is to verify a German military unit within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. The purpose of the visit is to check information, presented by Germany to the OSCE member states under the 1999 Vienna Document regarding the personnel and main materiel of the military unit.
29 December 2009
Belarus Armed Forces Summarise Results of the Year
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus have summarised the results of the training year.
The development and training of the Armed Forces in 2009 were being carried out, while taking into account external and internal factors influencing the implementation of the activities planned.
Under difficult conditions of the world financial crisis, which had come to Belarus from other states, our country confidently proved its capability of countering modern global threats. And national security bodies play an important role in it, as they are not only able to react to current events, but also to control the situation in the country within the limits of their competence.
This can be fully applied to the Armed Forces, which have successfully fulfilled all the tasks assigned for this year.
The Armed Forces Training Plan has been implemented almost completely, as well as the activities under the Armed Forces Development Plan for 2006-2010. The Defence Ministry upheld combat and mobilisation readiness of command and control bodies and troops at a necessary level, ensuring high morale among service members.
The Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise was successful, marking an important stage of joint training with the Russian Armed Forces.
The exercise was a logic further step of the manoeuvres, held in recent years, and its primary aim was to check, how the Union State's security system was functioning. The system's key element is considered to be the regional joint force of Belarus and Russia and its capability of accomplishing national and regional security tasks.
It was the first time the employment of RJF was practiced as part of a common system of strategic steps, made to counter a possible large-scale aggression against the Union State.
In general, the exercise increased interoperability of command and control bodies, enhanced the level of training of RJF units, showing that our countries are capable of ensuring military security of the Union State and have firm readiness to do so if necessary.
In the current year the Armed Forces also started implementing the Concept of Armed Forces Development till 2020. It provides for a switch from the phase of reforms and reorganisation to continuous development of the Armed Forces and intensive buildup of their combat capabilities. A common concept included specific ones for Armed Forces branches, arms and systems.
While implementing the Armed Forces Development Plan for 2006-2010, the Defence Ministry continued improving certain priority systems, such as command and control, air defence, aviation, rocket forces, reconnaissance, surveillance and electronic warfare means.
The Armed Forces took to carrying out the activities, planned within the framework of the United Regional Air Defence System and aimed at guarding external air borders of the Union State.
As a whole, the development of the Armed Forces in 2009 was logic in terms of the activities, carried out in the previous years, taking into account the demands and capabilities of the country's defence system.
28 December 2009
State Secretary of Belarus Security Council Visits New Information Body
On 24 December, State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Colonel General Leonid Maltsev visited the Vayar Military Information Agency, a new information body of the Belarusian Defence Ministry.
Leonid Maltsev could see how the agency works, obtains, processes and disseminates information, employs modern technologies, organises creative process and implements new projects.
The Vayar Military Information Agency was established in 2009 to accomplish multimedia tasks on informing the general public about the activities of the Armed Forces, their development and patriotic education.
21 December 2009
Operational Meeting of Armed Forces' Command Staff
Today the Belarusian Military Academy is hosting an operational meeting of the Armed Forces' command staff. In the course of the meeting, held under the command of Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin, chiefs of command and control bodies and commanders of military units will consider organisational issues of modern combat training.
It is also planned to summarise the results of the Armed Forces' activity in the current year and to set tasks for the year to come.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, addressed the participants of the operational meeting. State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Colonel General Leonid Maltsev read the text of this address.
18 December 2009
Delegation of Belarusian Armed Forces Visits Libya
On 14-16 December, a Belarusian delegation headed by Defence Minister Lieutenant General Yuri Zhadobin paid an official visit to Tripoli, Libya.
In the course of the visit the Belarusian Defence Minister conducted negotiations with Abu Bakr Yunis Jaber, Secretary of the Libyan General Interim Committee for Defence (defence minister).
Belarusian Defence Minister also met with the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
Chiefs of OSCE Verification Centres Meet
On 14-15 December 2009, chiefs of verification centres of the OSCE member states held an annual meeting in Vienna, Austria. The Belarusian Defence Ministry was represented by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Defence Ministry's department.
The participants of the meeting exchanged their experience in implementing confidence- and security-building measures within the OSCE and considered other verification issues.
15 December 2009
Chiefs of OSCE Member States' Verification Centres Meet
On 14-15 December 2009, chiefs of verification centres of the OSCE member states held an annual meeting in Vienna, Austria. Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Defence Ministry's department, represented the Belarusian Defence Ministry.
4 December 2009
New Appointments
The press-service of the Head of state reports that the President of the Republic of Belarus has considered a number of personnel issues and appointed:
Yuri Zhadobin Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus;
Pyotr Tikhonovsky Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, first deputy Defence Minister;
Mikhail Puzikov deputy minister of defence for personnel and troops training, chief of the main directorate for personnel;
Belarusian Military Representative Visits Slovakia with a Ukrainian Verification Group
On 30 November - 4 December 2009, a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces took part in verifications of two Slovak military units, conducted by a Ukrainian inspection group under to the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspections it was proved that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount.
Belarusian and Polish Military Representatives Meet
On 1-4 December 2009, representatives of Belarusian and Polish Armed Forces held a working meeting in Minsk to assess the implementation of the Agreement Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the 1999 Vienna Document
The Polish delegation involving a group of experts from the Polish Defence Ministry was headed by Colonel Robert Cepko. The Belarussian delegation was headed by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Belarusian Defence Ministry department.
1 December 2009
Polish Military Delegation Arrives in Minsk
A delegation of the Polish armed forces has arrived in Minsk. The representatives of a peacekeepers' training centre will instruct the personnel of the 120th guards mechanised brigade.
In the course of the visit the members of the delegation will also see the training facilities of the Military Academy and the 120th independent mechanised brigade, attend English and peacekeepers training courses.
26 November 2009
Vietnamese Military Attache Accredited in Belarus
The relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the military sphere have a dynamic nature. A new impulse to their development was given by an official visit of the Belarusian Defence Minister, Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Maltsev, to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which took place in May this year.
The bilateral military cooperation took another step forward by accrediting a Vietnamese military attache with the Belarusian Defence Ministry. The post was occupied by Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Fuk.
The accreditation ceremony took place in the Belarusian Defence Ministry on 26 November.
24 November 2009
Issues of Mutual Concern
The Belarusian Defence Ministry hosted consultations on the issues of military cooperation with its Lithuanian counterparts. The activity involved representatives of the directorate for foreign military cooperation, Belarusian Defence Ministry, and the department of international relations and operations, Lithuanian Defence Ministry.
In the course of the consultations the parties summarised the results and discussed near-term prospects of military cooperation between the two states. The participants exchanged their views on the topical issues of European security and armed forces development.
Both parties stressed that there was a mutual concern in bolstering military cooperation in the military sphere and that bilateral military cooperation between Belarus and Lithuania had been developing rapidly and consecutively.
One of the most important joint events in 2009 was a working meeting between the commanders of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence and the Lithuanian Air Force. The meeting was held in Kaunas in July and the two parties reached agreements, aimed at enhancing interaction in the sphere of exchanging data on flights.
It is also worth mentioning that Lithuanian journalists took part in a press tour of foreign mass media to the Republic of Belarus. As a result Lithuanian media resources released a series of objective reports about the Belarusian Armed Forces.
Belarusian service members learn foreign languages at international courses in the Lithuanian Military Academy.
The year of 2009 saw considerable progress of cooperation in the sphere of the armed forces' manning.
The participants of the consultation concluded that the Plan of Military Cooperation Activities between the Belarusian and Lithuanian defence ministries was being well implemented in the current year.
The parties adopted the Plan of Military Cooperation Activities for 2010, which is the main result of the event. From the Belarusian side the document was signed by Colonel Igor Zarovkin, chief of the directorate for foreign military cooperation, from the Lithuanian one - by Robertas Sapronas, chief of the international relations and operations department.
The activities to be implemented under the document signed will raise the relations between the two states to a new level, as well as establish a solid legal framework for further cooperation in the sphere.
The plan foresees close interaction in the spheres of finance and economics, arms control, peacekeeping, information and press, environment protection at military objects.
The Belarusian and Lithuanian defence ministries will also continue cooperating in the spheres of law and troops manning, implementing the bilateral Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures, advanced language study for service members and in other areas.
20 November 2009
Joint Arms Control Consultative Group to Meet in Moscow
On 24-27 November, Moscow is to see a meeting of the Joint Consultative Group for Arms Control within the framework of bilateral cooperation between the Belarusian and Russian defence ministries. The Belarusian delegation will be headed by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Verification and Inspections, Defence Ministry's department. In the course of the meeting it is planned to bring closer the views of the parties on the implementation of international arms control treaties in 2010.
Belarusian Inspectors Visit Poland
On 17-18 November, a group of Belarusian inspectors visited one of the Polish military units within the framework of the bilateral Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures, signed between Belarus and Poland. In the course of the visit the inspection group verified the data on personnel and materiel, presented by Poland to the OSCE member states under the 1999 Vienna Document.
Foreign Inspectors Visit 61st Fighter Airbase
On 16-19 November, an inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, headed by Major Norman White, visited Belarus within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). The inspectors verified the 61st fighter airbase, which is subject to control under the provisions of the CFE Treaty. The foreign military inspection proved that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount. Besides six British military inspectors, the inspection group included one inspector from Belgium, Canada and France each.
13 November 2009
Foreign Military Inspectors to Visit Belarus
On 16-19 November, an inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland headed by Major Norman White is to visit Belarus under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). The inspectors will verify a unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces (at the inspectors' option), which is subject to control under the provisions of the CFE Treaty. The inspection is aimed at checking that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount. Besides six British military inspectors, the inspection group will include one inspector from Belgium, Canada and France each.
9 November 2009
Delegation of Vietnamese Military Political Academy Visiting Belarus
The delegation of the Military Political Academy, Vietnam People's Army has begun its visit to the Republic of Belarus today.
During visit the members of the delegation will familiarise themselves with the personnel training system and the organisation of ideological work in the Belarusian Armed Forces, study the experience of military mass media, visit the Belarusian Military Academy and the 120th guards independent mechanised brigade.
The visit will last till 12 November 2009.
Belarusian Defence Minister to Visit Tajikistan
On 9-10 November 2009, Belarusian Defence Minister Colonel General Leonid Maltsev will take part in a session of the CIS Council of Defence Ministers in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan.
6 November 2009
Belarusian and Kazakh Army Representatives Meet
On 3-5 November 2009, Minsk hosted a working meeting of the representatives of the Belarusian and Kazakh armed forces, dedicated to cooperation in the sphere of arms control. The Belarusian delegation was headed by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Belarusian Defence Ministry department.
Polish Inspectors Conduct Inspection in Belarus
On 3-6 November 2009, a Polish inspection group headed by Lieutenant Colonel Yaroslav Pyurkovsky inspected a specified area in Belarus (Brest Region) within the framework of the Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the 1999 Vienna Document, adopted by Belarus and Poland. In the course of the inspection it was confirmed that no large-scale military activity, subject to preliminary notification under the Agreement, is conducted in the specified area.
3 November 2009
Bundeswehr Representatives Visiting Belarus
On 2 November, the delegation of the German Federal Defence Ministry arrived in Belarus. Bundeswehr representatives will take part in the seminar, dedicated to the organisation of ideological work in the Belarusian Armed Forces and inner command of the German army.
The participants of the seminar will share their experience with the personnel. The members of the delegation will visit the VoenTV television company of the Belarusian Defence Ministry, the Belarusian National Library, the Khatyn memorial complex and will familiarise themselves with the work of the Belarusian Army Drama Theatre and the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Belarusian Armed Forces.
The visit is to end on 5 November.
Belarusian Defence Minister to Visit Defence and Safety 2009 Exhibition
On 4-7 November, the Defence and Safety 2009 international exhibition is to be held in Bangkok, Thailand. Belarusian Defence Minister Colonel General Leonid Maltsev will visit the exhibition.
In the course of the visit the Belarusian Defence Minister will hold working meetings with representatives of the armed forces of Southeast Asian states.
30 October 2009
Foreign Inspectors Visit Belarus
On 26-30 October, a Dutch inspection group headed by Lieutenant Colonel Benediktus Reinsberg visited Belarus under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). The inspectors verified the 206th assault airbase of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence Command and the Belarusian Military Academy, which are objects of control under the CFE Treaty. The inspectors also confirmed that the actual amount of materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with its declared amount. Besides seven Dutch military inspectors, the inspection group included one inspector from Canada and Norway each.
Belarusian Military Inspectors Visit Ukraine
On 27-30 October, a Belarusian inspection group inspected a specified area in Ukraine within the framework of the Agreement between the Belarusian Government and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. In the course of the inspection it was confirmed that no military activity subject to preliminary notification under the Agreement is conducted in the specified area.
Meeting of Belarusian and Kazakh Armed Forces Representatives
On 3-5 November, Minsk is to host a working meeting of the representatives of the Belarusian and Kazakh armed forces devoted to cooperation in the sphere of arms control. The Belarusian delegation will be headed by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Defence Ministry department.
Polish Inspectors to Visit Belarus
On 4-5 November, a Polish inspection group headed by Lieutenant Colonel Yaroslav Pyurkovsky is to inspect a specified area in Belarus (Brest Region) within the framework of the Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the 1999 Vienna Document. The aim of the inspection is to confirm that no large-scale military activity subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document is conducted in the specified area.
23 October 2009
Belarusian Inspectors to Visit Ukraine
On 27-30 October, a Belarusian inspection group is to inspect a specified area in Ukraine within the framework of the Agreement between the Belarusian Government and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. The aim of the inspection is to confirm that no large-scale military activity subject to preliminary notification under the Agreement is conducted in the specified area.
General Staff Chief of Qatari Armed Forces to Visit Belarus
Major General Hamad bin Ali Al-Attiyah, Chief of General Staff, Qatari Armed Forces, is to visit Belarus on 26-28 October 2009.
In the course of the visit the parties will hold negotiations on further development of Belarusian-Qatari relations in the military sphere.
Major General Hamad bin Ali Al-Attiyah will meet with Belarusian Defence Minister Colonel General Leonid Maltsev.
Belarusian Military Inspectors Visit Germany
On 18-24 October, two representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces paid visits to an airbase and a military object of the German armed forces, which are organised for the OSCE member states every five years within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document.
22 October 2009
Indian Defence Minister to Visit Belarus
On 22-24 October 2009, Indian State Minister of Defence Mallipudi Mangapati Pallam Raju is to pay an official visit to the Republic of Belarus.
The programme of the visit includes negotiations on the further development of Belarusian-Indian relations in the military sphere.
The Indian Minister of Defence will meet with his Belarusian counterpart Colonel General Leonid Maltsev.
Within the framework of the visit the Indian military delegation will attend the Belarusian Military Academy and some defence plants.
On 20 October 2009, the Belarusian Defence Ministry received the materials of the investigation of the aircraft crash, which took place on 30 October in Radom, Poland. Having studied and analysed them, the Defence Ministry will make the relevant information public.
20 October 2009
Joint Exercise with Ukrainian Air Force
20 October 2009 saw the joint exercise of the air defence duty forces, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence, and the Ukrainian Air Force in conjunction with the Belarusian State Border Committee, held under the joint actions plan.
The exercise involved administrative bodies and air defence duty forces of the two states, as well as the Belarusian State Border Committee responsible for the security of the Belarusian state border.
The main aims of the exercise were to improve the interoperability of the Belarusian air defence duty forces and Ukrainian Air Force when accomplishing combat duty tasks, as well as to improve the skills of command posts combat crews exercising command and control over air defence duty forces. The participants of the exercise also tested the main provisions of the Agreement between the Belarusian and Ukrainian defence ministries.
In the course of the exercise control targets crossed the Belarusian-Ukrainian border to test the air defence duty forces and to see how the forces of the two countries exchange information about aircrafts flights.
9th Army Youth Friendship Festival
On 22-24 October 2009, the Vitebsk Region is to host the 9th Brothers in Arms army youth friendship festival. The activities of the festival will be held in Vitebsk, Lepel and the Beshenkovichi.
The festival will involve the service members of the 357th independent mobile battalion of the 103rd guards mobile brigade, Belarusian Armed Forces, and representatives of the Russian airborne troops.
The programme of the festival includes excursions round historic sites, visits to museums and monuments of the Vitebsk Region, meetings with the youth, lessons of courage, competitions, concerts of the army amateur groups, as well as performances by service members of the Belarusian special operations forces and Russian airborne troops.
16 October 2009
Belarusian Inspection Group Visits Poland
On 13-16 October, a Belarusian inspection group has verified a specified area in Poland within the framework of the Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the 1999 Vienna Document, adopted by Belarus and Poland.
In the course of the inspection it was confirmed that no military activity, subject to preliminary notification under the Agreement, is conducted in the specified area.
15 October 2009
Regular Meeting of Joint Collegium
On 20 October, Moscow will see a regular meeting of the Joint Collegium of the Belarusian and Russian Defence Ministries.
In the course of the meeting it is planned to discuss the further improvement of the regional joint force of the Belarusian and Russian armed forces including its information, logistics and signal components.
Under the agenda of the meeting, the working plan of the Joint Collegium of the Belarusian and Russian defence ministries for 2010 will be adopted.
13 October 2009
Fighting for Medals
Belarusian judoists won two medals in the World Judo Cup stage held in the Minsk Sports Palace.
Warrant Officer Olga Leshchenko, army athlete, became a silver prize winner in the weight category under 48 kg. She was defeated by a Russian athlete Natalya Kondratyeva. Another our compatriot Inna Osipovich was defeated by a Ukrainian athlete Tatyana Lushnikova fighting for bronze in the same weight category and took the fifth place.
A Belarusian athlete Anastasia Leshkova won a bronze medal in the weight category under 63 kg. She defeated another Belarusian representative Yekaterina Prokopenko, who was placed fifth.
Other eight Belarusian judoists took the top eight places in the World Cup stage. The fifth places were shared by Mariya Kuznetsova and Irina Oblamskaya (under 70 kg) and Irina Iodkovskaya and Larisa Balan (over 78 kg). Leila Abbasova (under 48 kg), Darya Skripnik (under 52 kg), Yekaterina Zhuravlyova (under 57 kg) and Galina Kovalyova (over 78 kg).
The competitions involved about 90 athletes from 13 countries. France won the largest number of medals: 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze ones. It was followed by the teams of Russia 1, 1, 6, Ukraine - 1, 1, 3, Great Britain - 1, 1, 0, Belarus - 0, 1, 1, Poland - 0, 1, 1 and Kazakhstan - 0, 0, 1.
Victories of Army Handball Players
Handball players of the SKA-Minsk club won the first match of the 2nd qualifying round of the European Handball Federation Cup.
The army athletes defeated the Cyprian Strovolos team with a score of 21:19 (8:9) playing in the Game Sports Palace of the Belarusian Armed Forces Sports Committee. During the first part of the game the guests were leading the score almost all the time. After the break the Belarusians started playing faster and at the end of the game they were 6 balls ahead of the Cypriots. But the guests managed to reduce the gap till two balls and it was the brilliant performance of our goalkeeper Aleksei Zhuk that saved the victory. As the Strovolos club was defeated at a close score it has become a favorite to be qualified for the next round. The play-off of these teams is to be held in Nikosia on 18 October.
10 October 2009
Departure of Last Russian Echelons
The departure of the last Russian participants of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise to their permanent dispositions is coming to an end today.
According to the schedule, the last four railway echelons with the personnel and materiel of the technical assistance military units are departing to Russia on 10 October.
As the officials in the transport service department of the Belarusian Defence Ministry noted, the redeployment of the Russian command and control bodies and military units of the regional joint force is carried out in accordance with the previously set terms.
9 October 2009
Visit to Czech Airbase and Inspection in Netherlands
On 5-9 October, within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document two Belarusian Armed Forces officials visited a Czech airbase and observed the military exercise and the demonstration of new materiel of the country's armed forces. Such activities are held for the OSCE member states every five years.
At the same time, within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe a Belarusian inspection group verified two military units of the Dutch armed forces. The group checked that the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincided with the declared figures.
Belarusian Inspection Group to Visit Poland
On 13-16 October, a Belarusian inspection group is to conduct an inspection of a specified area in Poland within the framework of the Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the 1999 Vienna Document, adopted by Belarus and Poland. The aim of the inspection is to verify that no military activity, subject to preliminary notification under the 1999 Vienna Document, is conducted in the specified area.
October 6, 2009
Example of Efficient Anti-Corruption Activity
Efficient system of preventing and fighting corruption has been created in Belarus. Command and control, military attorney department and counter-intelligence bodies purposefully implement a set of joint measures aimed at preventing corruption crimes in the military sphere. These measures resulted in progressive reduction of a number of crimes in the Armed Forces. The existing system of anti-corruption activity, which is implemented in close conjunction with the Ministry for Internal Affairs, allows to discover and to prevent any such crimes regardless of the term of limitation. Thus the system provides for unavoidable punishment for a wrongful act.
For example, a wrongful act committed more than five years ago was discovered and in the result a representative of a technical unit of the Armed Forces was arrested on 30 September 2009, on suspicion of committing it. The case has been brought before a court and the corresponding investigatory actions are conducted.
October 2, 2009
Participants of Zapad-2009 Returning to Permanent Dispositions
The participants of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise are returning to permanent dispositions after accomplishing combat training tasks of the operational-strategic exercise.
On 1-2 October, Russian aviation units, which took part in the exercise, have left the Belarusian territory for their permanent airfields in Russia.
On 1 October, the preliminary results of the exercise were summarised and solemn ceremonies dedicated to the honouring of the territorial defence troops' participants of the Zapad-2009 exercise were held in Lida, Borisov and Lepel regions. These activities involved Major General Nikitin Alexandr Nikolaevich, Ground Forces commander, chairmen of the Lida, Borisov and Lepel regional executive committees, representatives of the Belarusian Officers' Union, veterans' organisations, The Belarusian Republican Youth Union and enterprise managers.
October 1, 2009
Visits within the Framework of 1999 Vienna Document and CFE Treaty
On 5-9 October, two representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces will participate in visiting an airbase, observing a military exercise and demonstrating new materiel of the Czech armed forces under the 1999 Vienna Document. All these activities are organised for the OSCE member states once in five years.
At the same time a Belarusian inspection group will inspect two military units of the Dutch armed forces under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspections the group will check that the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with the declared figures.
September 29, 2009
Belarusian and Russian Presidents Attend Final Stage of Zapad-2009 Exercise
Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attended the final stage of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
The heads of states arrived at the command post of the regional joint force, Obuz-Lesnovsky Range. The Strategic Command Centre informed the presidents about the exercise, joint approach of Belarusian and Russian armed forces to military security of the Union State and about the role of the regional joint force in the Eastern European Collective Security Region.
Alexandr Lukashenko and Dmitry Medvedev familiarised themselves with the troops command carried out by the United Command of the Regional Joint Force. The presidents also visited a secondary command post of the General Staff, Russian Armed Forces, and familiarised themselves with its facilities.
After that the heads of states went to the Belorussky Burial Mound, where joint actions of Belarusian and Russian armed forces were practiced.
Final Day of Active Phase of Zapad-2009 Operational-Strategic Exercise. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
In the course of the first stage of the exercise preparation of a defensive operation was practiced.
At the second stage command and control of the regional joint force during a defensive operation is carried out.
Interoperability of Belarusian and Russian troops when preparing and conducting a defensive operation (one of the most important issues for the regional joint force) is practiced today at the 230th Obuz-Lesnovsky All-Arms Range.
The troop review will be held after the completion of combat training actions. In the evening Belarusian and Russian pop-stars will congratulate Belarusian and Russian service members on successful completion of manoeuvres on a stage near the airdrome of the 61st fighter airbase.
September 28, 2009
Troops Start Active Combat Training Actions. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
On September 28, the troops of the regional joint force have started active combat training actions at all the Belarusian ranges where the exercise is conducted.
Belarusian and Russian military units jointly accomplish practical tasks connected with the preparation for a defensive action and camouflage positions at the 230th Obuz-Lesnovsky All-Arms Range.
The 115th and 62nd SAM brigades have started accomplishing practical tasks aimed at repulsing air strikes and the OSA SAM battery conducts field firing at the 174th training range, Air Force and Air Defence. At the same time anti-airborne activities and countering sabotage and reconnaissance groups are practiced. The accomplishment of these tasks also involves the ground forces and special operations forces' units. The motorised infantry battalion of the 50th separate mechanised brigade accomplishes a task of anti-airborne reserve in conjunction with the special operations forces' company.
The 38th separate mobile brigade conducts combat reconnaissance actions and countering sabotage and reconnaissance groups at the Brest Range.
After successful performance of precision bombing exercises Russian and Belarusian combat aircrews practice interoperability in aviation support of the ground forces and participate in joint combat air policing duty.
September 27, 2009
Preparation for Most Complex Stage of Exercise. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
September 27 is a day off for service members at some military ranges where the exercise is conducted. These ranges see cultural and sporting activities. The personnel are preparing for the final and most complex stage of the exercise with field firing.
Command and control bodies continue to work under combat conditions. The United Command of the Regional Joint Force accomplishes tasks connected with command and control of troops during a defensive operation. The actions of the Air Force and Air Defence aimed at providing cover of the regional joint force are coordinated, the tasks of the territorial troops and other military units aimed at securing martial law and other service tasks are specified.
The 62nd and the 115th SAM brigades practice air defence battle at the 174th training range, Air Force and Air Defence. Their actions are supported by the 50th separate mechanised brigade.
Special operations forces practice countersabotage actions in the areas of the exercise.
September 26, 2009
Zapad-2009 Exercise Shows Efficiency of Executive Branch Officials' Work
The results of the work of executive branch officials during the exercise indicate the responsible approach of the local authorities to the further accomplishment of territorial defence tasks at all levels. The current system of joint work of officials, state, command and control bodies and organisations at local levels appears to be efficient.
The executive branch officials efficiently command the exercise and use the potential of the regions to a full extent when accomplishing diverse tasks of territorial defence.
In the course of the exercise civilian and military structures work in conditions which are very close to combat ones.
Air Force and Air Defence Continuing to Accomplish Tasks of Exercise
In the course of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise the Air Force and Air Defence practice to command the subordinate forces during a training defensive operation.
This operation involves command and control bodies, aviation and SAM units and radio-engineering troops.
Under the plan of the exercise, after repulsing a massive air strike command and control bodies take a decision to change position areas and firing positions. Repulsing concentrated and group air strikes during defensive actions is practiced. The aviation intercepts air targets and engages training targets.
SAM troops practice engaging air targets by fire and radio-engineering troops carry out radar support of command and control bodies, aviation and SAM troops.
Second Stage of Zapad-2009 Operational-Strategic Exercise Continuing. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
On September 26, military units have practiced repulsing air strikes, changing operational designation areas and preparing defensive lines and positions at the ranges and areas of the exercise.
During the accomplishment of the tasks of the exercise particular attention was paid to increasing survivability of the troops including camouflage activities.
Interoperability of Belarusian and Belarusian military units when accomplishing tasks of a defensive operation (one of the most important issues for the regional joint forces) was practiced within two days at the 230th Obuz-Lesnovsky All-Arms Range.
Mechanised military units conducted mobile defence at intermediate bounds. The Air Force and Air Defence units put up an umbrella for them.
September 25, 2009
Territorial Troops Start Practical Actions
In the course of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise territorial troops train to guard and defend critical facilities, to fight against enemy sabotage groups, to secure martial law and to support the actions of the Armed Forces during a defensive operation. Particular attention is paid to further improvement of application of territorial troops in conjunction with other troops and military units when repulsing aggression.
Territorial defence departments of local military commissariats, representatives of local executive authorities of all levels participate in the exercise as officials of the corresponding Defence Councils, representatives of territorial law enforcement, state security and emergency situations bodies. The established territorial defence staffs and territorial troops accomplish the service tasks in the Borisov, Lida and Lepel Regions.
Military authorities practice to command the subordinate forces successfully and the interoperability of the territorial defence staffs and other command and control bodies and state authorities is achieved. The representatives of law enforcement bodies, the Ministry for Emergency Situations, the State Security Committee and the State Border Committee cooperate within the staffs of territorial defence areas.
Officers, sergeants and retired soldiers show their perfect skills in using standard materiel and conducting combat operations.
Air Force and Air Defence's Participation in Second Stage of Exercise
The Air Force and Air Defence has set out the second stage of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise in close conjunction with the Army and special operations forces.
In the course of the first stage preparation of a defensive operation and comprehensive support of troops' actions were practiced.
Activities aimed at countering reconnaissance and sabotage groups were conducted in conjunction with the Army and territorial defence forces.
The units of all armed branches accomplished tasks connected with preparing to repulse air strikes and harmonised the actions of combat crews. The interoperability of SAM units equipped with different types of SAM systems was practiced.
The commanders focus their attention on camouflage, hardening positions and command points, countering air reconnaissance and on counter-subversion activities.
Radio-engineering troops practiced to expand radar field and carried out radar support of SAM troops and aviation.
The personnel of command posts command Air Force and Air Defence forces and facilities from mobile command posts.
The Belarusian pilots of the joint air grouping carried out redeployment to dispersal airfields and simulated landing to an improvised airfield road section.
Support of High Morale of Service Members. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
In the course of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise particular attention is paid to the support of high morale of service members, which is considered as the main condition for successful accomplishment of combat training tasks.
The singers and dancers of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces and the actors of the Drama Theatre of the Belarusian Army are performing before the service members.
The creative team of the Cultural Centre, Russian Armed Forces, is performing a large concert programme at the Obuz-Lesnovsky Range. Service members can listen to patriotic songs of the Great Patriotic War and postwar periods and lyric ballads during the breaks in the course of the exercise.
Second Stage of Operational-Strategic Exercise Continuing. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
Heavy training of Belarusian and Russian military units is taking place at all Belarusian military ranges.
The 11th separate mechanised brigade of the Belarusian Army and tank units of the Russian Armed Forces are getting ready to accomplish combat training tasks in the course of joint defensive actions at the 230th Obuz-Lesnovsky All-Arms Range. The main attention is paid to interoperability of all components of Belarusian and Russian armed forces.
The 62nd and 115th SAM brigades accomplish combat training tasks connected with the repulse of air strikes at the 174th training range of the Air Force and Air Defence. At the same time counteracting sabotage and reconnaissance groups is practiced in conjunction with motorised rifle units.
Joint application of Belarusian and Russian aviation is practiced at the 210th Ruzhany Air Range.
The crews of the 927th fighter airbase and 206th assault airbase practice landing aircraft to an airfield road section in conjunction with support units.
The environment of the exercise is very close to combat conditions, where the main attention is paid to joint and coordinated actions of command and control bodies and troops.
September 24, 2009
Active Phase of Troops' Actions
The 2nd stage of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise is continuing in Belarus.
Staffs at all levels have finished planning defensive actions. Active phase of the troops' actions has begun.
Mechanised, infantry and tank units have advanced to the areas where defensive actions are practiced.
The personnel are organising the terrain. Particular attention is paid to camouflage, counteracting sabotage-reconnaissance groups and interoperability with the territorial troops.
September 23, 2009
Army Wrestler Wins Bronze
An army sportsman Rizvan Gadzhiev has become a bronze prize-winner in the 55-kg weight class of the world free-style wrestling championship in Herning, Denmark. He defeated a Moldavian sportsman Ivan Gyuldyu in the round of 32, a Japanese Shinichi Yumoto in the round of 16, an Iranian Khasan Rakhimi in the quarterfinal and was defeated by Kyung Yangu of the Korean People's Democratic Republic in the semifinal. Fighting for bronze the army wrestler defeated Krasimir Krastanov of Great Britain with the score of 6:0.
Army Biathlete Wins Gold
The world summer biathlon championship has begun in Oberhof, Germany.
A Belarusian sportswoman Irina Babetskaya successfully performed in the woman's 3-km distance race. She won a gold medal in the result of running the distance for 11 minutes 43.1 seconds with only one miss at two firing lines. A Belarusian biathlete Olga Nazarova was the second. She yielded only one second to the winner and made only one miss at the firing ground. A German Yuliana Dol took third place. Her result was 12 minutes and 12 seconds and she made 3 misses.
The man's, woman's and junior's pursuit races are to be held in Oberhof today.
Flights from Airfield Road Sections
On September 25, flights from airfield road sections are to be conducted under the plan of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
The aim of the flights is to practice the use of airfield road sections as reserve airfields and dispersal fields, to prepare the aircrew for flights from airfield road sections.
In the course of the flights the landing of the Su-25 UB and MiG-29 UB aircraft to airfield road sections, their subsequent preparation for a repeated flight and flight to their home airfield will be carried out.
The flights from airfield road sections will involve the 206th assault airbase and the 927th fighter airbase of the Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence.
It is planned that Mi-24 helicopters of the 181st combat helicopter base will provide an air umbrella of the area of the flights.
Different Air Force and Air Defence units will support the flights. Signal units are to provide radio coverage, radio-engineering troops are to provide radar control of the flights and to share radar information with battle aviation command posts.
Engineer-airfield, materiel and rear support units will accomplish serious tasks. It is not only the preparation of the runway, fueling of aircraft but also the camouflage of air materiel and ground support facilities of general purpose after the aircraft landing.
The flights from airfield road sections were preceded by long-term preparatory work. The interoperability of control posts and crews and navigational support were practiced. The training flights were conducted. The personnel of the base studied the safety requirements concerning the flights from airfield road sections and their preparation. The interoperability with executive and administrative authorities in support of flights from airfield road sections is achieved.
The Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence started to consider the use of airfield road sections as reserve airfields in 2007. On April 14, the landing of two Su-25 UB ground-attack aircraft of the 206th assault airbase from the Lida airfield to airfield road sections was carried out for the first time in the history of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence. In summer that year the automobile road was "checked for reliability" by the fighters: on August 4, the Mig-29 and Su-27 aircraft of the 61st fighter airbase from the Baranovichi Airfield landed at the automobile road section. In 2008 Belarusian aircraft landed at the automobile road section two times: in May in the course of the command-staff training of the Air Force and Air Defence and in September in the course of the Osen-2008 exercise.
First Stage of Exercise Finished. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
Military authorities and troops finished the first stage of the operational-strategic exercise on Belarusian territory yesterday. At this stage the activities aimed at preparing a defensive operation were carried out.
In the course of the first stage the planning documents of the defensive operation were specified, the comprehensive support of troops and military units was practiced, the command and control of troops deployment was carried out and fight against enemy airborne-subversion forces was practiced.
In the course of the second stage command and control of the regional joint forces in the course of a defensive operation will be practiced. The second phase is to begin today.
The main attention will be paid to the evaluation of the functioning of the regional joint force of Belarus and Russia concerning the repulse of air strikes, troops command and control during combat actions aimed at holding defensively as well as to the improvement of the practical skills of the officials of the regional joint forces' united command concerning command and control of military units during a defensive operation and repulse of air strikes.
It is planned to achieve the following aims in the course of the troops' practical actions:
to practice command and control of the Air Force during the deployment of the regional joint force and combat actions of SAM divisions in the course of a defensive operation of operational command troops at the 174th Domanovo Training Range of the Air Force and Air Defence;
to accomplish training tasks connected with the organisation of tactical employment and command and control of aviation at the 210th Ruzhany Range;
to practice the deployment of landing troops in the area of the Belitsa settlement;
To practice carrying out a counterattack of the regional joint force of Belarus and Russia under the plan of the exercise at the 230th Obuz-Lesnovsky All-Arms Range, which is tha main area of the exercise.
September 22, 2009
SAM Systems Conducting Field Firing
The Russian Telemba Range sees the third stage of the tactical exercise of the 377th guards SAM regiment and 825th SAM regiment of the Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence. On September 22-23, the crews of the SAM systems of the abovementioned units are conducting field firing.
The SAM units will carry out eight combat rocket launches to engage two MR-9ITS targets (jammer simulation) and four Strizh-2 targets (simulator of a high-altitude high-speed pinpoint target). The combat crews of the 377th guards SAM regiment have been tested today. The Belarusian crews have accomplished their tasks successfully having engaged all the targets.
It should be mentioned that the tactical exercise of the 377th guards SAM regiment and 825th SAM regiment, Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence, are held within the framework of the operational-tactical exercise of the Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command under the plan of the Air Force and Air Defence training.
The key aims of the exercise are to improve command and control skills of commanders and staffs, to improve the skills of the crews when accomplishing combat training tasks and to practice redeployment of units.
The exercise has four stages. In the course of the first and the second stage the troops operated at their permanent positions and redeployed their combat crews to the site of field firing by air. The participants of the exercise practiced to transfer the units from peace-time to war-time, checked the readiness of the combat crews to repulse enemy air strikes and the readiness of the personnel to accomplish the service tasks in permanent posts.
The exercise will be finished when the units return to the permanent posts by air.
Redeployment of Troops to Alushuk Range Finished
The redeployment of the Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command troops to the Alushuk Range in the Astrakhan Region, Russia, is finished. On September 22, in the course of the operational-strategic exercise the personnel of the 15th SAM brigade and the Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command troops have left for the range by an air echelon under the troops' field firing training plan. A day before the materiel of this brigade had arrived at a railway station near Alushuk.
The participants of the actions at the Alushuk Range will include combat crews of two SAM brigades, radio-engineering battalions, signal and service units as well as the crews of MiG-29 aircrafts of the fighter airbase, which took part in the Boyevoye Sodruzhestvo joint exercise of the troops of the CIS member states' united air defence system.
Zapad-2009 Operational-Strategic Exercise Continuing. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
Today the staffs of the Belarusian and Russian armed forces units are training to command the subordinate military units under conditions of a dynamically changing situation, finishing to specify decisions connected with defensive actions and tasks of operational commands and military units connected with a defensive operation and territorial troops actions.
Military officials train the subordinate military units to carry out defensive actions.
The Russian Air Force and the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence continue to accomplish tasks connected with the joint combat duty, practice the issues of the aircrew interoperability during the joint accomplishment of the tasks of exercises.
The territorial troops units finish preparing for combat training actions, take part in the implementation of administrative and military measures aimed at securing martial law and finish preparing for the accomplishment of other service tasks.
Local population, labour collectives and public organisations fully support these activities aimed at strengthening the military security of the Union State.
The chief officials in charge of the exercise highly appreciates the joint work of the staff and chiefs of territorial defence areas and emphasises the high level of their readiness for the accomplishment of the service tasks.
September 21, 2009
Interoperability Organised. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
The accomplishment of tasks of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise is continuing in the areas of the exercise.
The United Command of the RJF has organised interoperability in defensive actions as well as in territorial defence in the areas of responsibility of the units.
The personnel of military units are continuing to practice counter-diversionary actions.
Units of the territorial troops take part in the implementation of administrative and military measures aimed at securing martial law, guard and defence of important state and military objects.
Today the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Belarusian Armed Forces will present its concert programme to the participants of the exercise. The programme is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory.
Pilots Practice Issues of Joint Training-Tactical Employment.
Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
Today, on September 21, pilots of the Belarusian and Russian Air Force have practiced the issues of the joint training-tactical employment at the Obuz-Lesnovsky Range.
Pilots of the army aviation and their Belarusian colleagues examined the engagement of different training targets, pattern of the tactical employment of suppression of tactical positions fire and grounding of the landing force from the Mi-8 helicopters.
Crews of the Su-27 aircraft of the Russian Air Force practiced air fight.
September 20, 2009
Third Day of Exercise. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
In accordance with the created operational environment the trained military authorities from the Joint Staff of the RJF till a staff of a battalion are continuing to practice planning defensive actions and organisation of cooperation.
In the course of the work the concerted command of military units and the attached aviation, artillery, surface-to-air, engineer and units is practiced.
The work on coordination of the actions of territorial troops is continuing at the command points of the staffs of the territorial defence zone.
The main efforts of the troops command of the Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command, Air Force and Air Defence, are concentrated on the improvement of practical preparation of pilots and flight officers for the accomplishment of their service tasks.
The units of the Land Forces are continuing to improve their engineer skills and take actions aimed to counteract commando-type reconnaissance activity.
Today within the framework of the exercise it is planned to conduct a number of festive events timed to the professional holiday of the Belarusian Service members - the Day of Motorised Infantry. The programme includes the performance of the concert brigades of the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble, Belarusian Armed Forces, Honoured Band named the Exemplary Orchestra of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Dramatic Theatre of the Belarusian Army, laureates and winners of international military-patriotic song contests and the Zvezda television army song contest.
September 19, 2009
Zapad-2009 Exercise Continuing. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
The Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise is continuing.
Within the framework of the exercise the Joint Command of the Regional Joint Forces (RJF) started preparing a defensive operation. The main attention is paid to the achievement of congruence in the work of the Joint Command of the RGF, authorities of the Belarusian Armed Forces, directorates of operational and operational-tactical commands and military units of Belarus and Russia during the preparation of a defensive operation
During the first two days, the Joint Command of the RJF practices joint planning of operations, command of forces and facilities of the Regional Joint Forces and combat training units' actions under the plan of the exercise. The military units of the Russian Armed Forces finish their redeployment to the areas of the exercise.
The staffs of territorial defence zones started working at command points. The units of territorial troops accomplish combat training tasks on the support of the RJF actions.
The 927th fighter airbase of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence and the 14th fighter air regiment of the Russian Air Force entered on joint combat air defence duty.
Pilots Enter on Joint Combat Duty. Joint Press Centre of Exercise Reporting
Today at 8 a.m. the 927th Koenigsberg Red Banner Alexandr Nevsky Order fighter airbase of the Northwestern Operational-Tactical Command, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence, and the 14th Red Banner Leningrad 3rd Class Suvorov Order guards fighter air regiment, Russian Air Force, entered the joint combat air defence duty at the OSOVTSY airfield under the plan of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
After the ritual had been conducted and the combat duty orders had been read, Belarusian and Russian state flags were hoisted to the strains of the national anthems.
September 18, 2009
Lithuanian Inspectors Visit 61st Fighter Airbase
On 16 September, an inspection group of Lithuania conducted an evaluation visit to the 61st fighter airbase of the Belarusian Armed Forces under the Belarusian-Lithuanian Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. In the course of the visit the group confirmed the information, presented by Belarus to the OSCE member states under the Vienna Document 1999 concerning the personnel of the main materiel systems.
Sitting of Joint Consultative Group for Arms Control Issues
On 15-18 September, a sitting of the Joint Consultative Group for Arms Control Issues has been held in Minsk within the framework of bilateral cooperation between Belarusian and Russian defence ministries. The Russian delegation in the negotiations was headed by a representative of the Russian National Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre Colonel Sergei Zabello. In the course of the sitting the parties harmonised positions and joint actions on the implementation of international treaties and agreements in the sphere of arms control.
September 16, 2009
Redeployment of Russian Aircraft Almost Finished
Russian Air Force aircraft to take part in the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise have been almost completely redeployed to the airfields of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence.
On 16 September, Russian Su-27 fighters of the 968th Sevastopol Red Banner and 3rd Class Suvorov Orders combined research-training air regiment, 4th air safety and pilot training centre, landed at the Baranovichi airfield of the 61st fighter airbase.
Russian pilots were given a cordial welcome on the Belarusian land. There was a solemn rally, attended by local authorities, military units commanders, veterans and representatives of youth organisations.
Belarusian military airfields had earlier received Russian Su-24, Su-25 and MiG-29 airplanes and Mi-28N helicopters to participate in the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
Altogether, over 100 Russian and Belarusian aircraft (airplanes and helicopters) will be involved in the forthcoming exercise.
September 15, 2009
Belarusian SAM Systems at Telemba Range
On 15 September, Belarusian missilemen left the Machulishchi airfield for the Chita Region, Russia. They will take part in a tactical exercise with field firing, which will be held at the Russian Telemba range (513th training centre of tactical employment of the Russian Air Force) within the framework of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
As part of the regional joint force the combat crews of the 377th guards and 825th SAM regiments, North-Western Operational-Tactical Command of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence, will practice repulsing air strikes under conditions of the application of high-precision weapons and special operations forces.
The flights of control targets will test the actions of the alert forces. And the next day, on 23-24 September, field firing will take place.
September 14, 2009
New Web-Site Available
In order to inform the public and mass media about the activities held within the framework of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise the Belarusian Defence Ministry has created a special resource . The web-site will have the latest and most reliable information about the exercise, updated 24 hours a day.
September 12, 2009
Development of Belarusian Armed Forces at First Hand
On September 11, the military-technical department of the Belarusian State Technical University and Belarusian Military Academy saw a seminar of republican mass media chiefs presided over by Colonel General Leonid Maltsev, Belarusian Defence Minister.
The main topic of the forum was "The national system of military education in the Republic of Belarus. Exercises as the main form of troops training".
Among the participants were Deputy Information Minister of Belarus Alexandr Slobodchuk and chiefs of the main republican mass media.
The members of the seminar familiarised themselves with the modern system of personnel training in the Belarusian army and got to know how the Military Academy and civil higher educational establishments of the country were capable of accomplishing the tasks of training highly skilled military specialists.
Belarusian mass media chiefs also saw modern methods, technologies and equipment used in military training. Journalists were especially interested in modern simulator complexes and computer programmes for officers' training.
Besides dwelling on the issues of military education Colonel General Leonid Maltsev went into detail on the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
About 13,000 personnel are planned to take in the exercise, approx. 7,000 of them are from the Belarusian side and about 6,000 - from the Russian one. It is also planned to conscript about 1,800 people eligible for military service in the course of the operational-strategic exercise.
The materiel of the exercise will consist of both combat and special equipment, including 103 aircraft (63 airplanes and 40 helicopters), about 470 combat armoured vehicles, 228 tanks, 234 self-propelled and towed artillery pieces, mortars and MLRS.
The main activities of the operational-strategic exercise will be held at the Obuz-Lesnovsky range, where the main actions of the troops (forces) will take place.
Preparing for the exercise our country demonstrates full openness of its intentions. Under the procedures, specified in the Vienna Document 1999, Belarus has sent invitations to observers from all the neighbouring states (Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland and Ukraine), as well as to all foreign military diplomats with the Belarusian Defence Ministry.
September 11, 2009
First Belarusian Air Echelon Flies to Russia to Participate in Zapad-2009 Exercise
Today the first Belarusian air echelon flew to the Russian range of Alushuk in the Astrakhan Region from the Osovtsy airdrome in Beryoza.
Six MiG-29 aircraft of the 927th fighter airbase and the Il-76 military-transport aircraft with service members of 115th air defence brigade and 927th fighter airbase on board flew to participate in the Zapad-2009 and Boyevoe Sodruzhestvo-2009 large-scale exercises.
On September 25, for the first time in the history of the Belarusian Armed Forces, pilots of the 927th fighter airbase will conduct guided missiles launches at night on board the MiG-29 aircraft. They will be targeted at the PM-6 parachute target, simulating heat-contrast targets: helicopters and UAVs. Besides, air combat fighters are to accomplish an unusual task: two fighters will attack ground targets simultaneously during a complex manoeuvre.
The 15th air defence brigade will be represented by three battalions of the S-300 SAM systems with their materiel. The S-300 SAM system, which was overhauled at the 2566th Belarusian radio-electronic armament repair factory, will also be tested during the exercise. (previously Belarusian SAM systems were repaired only on Russian territory).
September 10, 2009
Group of Belarusian Inspectors to Visit Poland
On September 14-19, a Belarusian inspection group is to verify two Polish military units under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspections the group will check that the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the Treaty, coincides with the declared figures. The Belarusian inspection group also includes an invited inspector from Kazakhstan and one from Ukraine.
September 9, 2009
First Russian Echelon Arrives in Belarus to Take Part in Zapad-2009
The preparation for the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise has reached its final stage.
Today, the station of Zaslonovo in the Vitebsk Region received the first railway echelon with service members and materiel for the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise. This engineer unit will be engaged in the preparation and equipment of the areas to host the exercise.
The railway station saw a solemn rally, dedicated to the arrival of the Russian participants of the operational-strategic exercise. The rally included Russian and Belarusian service members, representatives of local authorities and public bodies as well as residents of Zaslonovo. Russian service members laid a flower garland to the monument of Konstantin Zaslonov, Hero of the Soviet Union.
The chief of the Russian echelon, Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Kurzayev, noted: "We are on the Belarusian land, which has been abundantly covered with the blood of our grandfathers and great grandfathers. Our peoples have a common Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It is symbolic and justified that today we learn to defend our common past, present and future together".
The Russian service members stressed that they had come to the fraternal Belarusian land, inhabited by the unconquerable Belarusian people, which had shown bright examples of heroism fighting for its Fatherland, examples of creative labour, serving goodness and justice. The people that deserved the deepest respect and appreciation. The people that ensured security of both its own state and Russia on the country's western borders.
The exercise takes place in the year of the 65th anniversary of Belarus's liberation from the Nazi occupants on the eve of the 65th jubilee of the Great Victory.
It is our common Great Victory that symbolises the joint contribution to the defeat of the aggressor, and today, 65 years later it proves once again that together we have always solved and will solve any problems.
Today we are together meeting the challenges of ensuring military security of our states and the Union State as a whole.
The Zapad-2009 exercise is a logic further step of the exercises, held in recent years, and its primary purpose is to check how the joint defence system of the Union State is functioning and is capable of tackling the tasks of ensuring national and regional security.
It had also been mentioned that 13,000 personnel were to take part in the operational-strategic exercise, about 7,000 of which were to represent the Belarusian side, and approximately 6,000 - the Russian one.
September 8, 2009
Zapad-2009 Begins on Russian Territory
Today, on September 8, Russian units of the regional joint force have begun accomplishing the tasks of the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise on Russian territory.
In Belarus the exercise is to begin on September 18.
As it was reported earlier, the theme of the exercise is "Training and applying the regional joint force of Belarus and Russia to ensure military security of the Union State".
The aims of the exercise are:
To test the ability of Belarus and Russia in ensuring military security of the Union State;
To improve the cohesion of the chain of command, field and flight skills of Belarusian and Russian military units in RJF.
More than 12.5 thousand people, more than 200 tanks and 470 armoured vehicles, more than 100 aircraft, more than 200 self-propelled and towed artillery pieces, mortars and missile systems of valley fire will take part in the exercise.
The first Russian echelons are expected to arrive tomorrow, on September 9.
The exercise will last till September 29, 2009.
September 7, 2009
Bilateral Meeting of Belarusian and French Military Officials
On September 9-10, the city of Crei, France, is to see a bilateral meeting of representatives of the Belarusian and French armed forces, dedicated to the issues of cooperation in the sphere of arms control. The Belarusian delegation will be headed by Colonel Oleg Gorbach, chief of the National Agency for Control and Inspections, Defence Ministry department.
September 4, 2009
High Awards of This Country
On September 4, Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko handed state awards to representatives of different spheres of the national economy, uniformed departments and sport, the press service of the head of state reports.
Svyatoslav Shnitko, chief of the military-medical department of the Belarusian State Medical University, was given the title of the Honoured Doctor of Belarus.
Training Course for Arms Control Inspectors
On August 31 - September 11, the National Agency for Control and Inspections of the Belarusian Defence Ministry is holding a course, aimed to organise experience exchange between arms control inspectors/attendants and representatives of verification centres in NATO and OSCE member states, as well as to improve the knowledge of Russian among foreign experts. 10 representatives of Belgian, British, German, Danish, Polish, French and Czech verification centres take part in the activity. Representatives of the NATO Verification Coordinating Committee and the directorate for verification of the Ukrainian armed forces general staff also take part in the training course as experts on arms control.
September 1, 2009
Trilateral Meeting of General Staff Chiefs
A trilateral border meeting of the general staff chiefs of the Belarusian, Polish and Ukrainian Armed Forces is to be held in Brest on September 4-5. In the course of the meeting Lieutenant General Sergei Gurulyov, chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, first deputy Defence Minister of Belarus, General Franciszek G?gor, chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces and General of the Army Sergei Kirichenko, chief of the General Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will discuss the issues of armed forces development and prospects of military cooperation between the three countries. The agenda includes visits to the 38th independent guards mobile brigade and Brest Hero Fortress memorial complex. The participants of the meeting will also lay wreaths to the Eternal Flame.
New Appointments
According to the press-service of the head of state, Major General Sergei Borisyonok has been dismissed from the post of the chief of the North-Western Operational Command, Belarusian Armed Forces and transferred to the reserve for health reasons under the Decree of the Belarusian President.
Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko appointed Major General Ivan Chaus chief of the North-Western Operational Command, Belarusian Armed Forces, dismissing him from the post of the chief of staff, first deputy commander of the North-Western Operational Command.
The head of state appointed Colonel Andrei Ravkov chief of staff, first deputy chief of the North-Western Operational Command.
August 30, 2009
Press-Service Reports
On August 30, 2009 the Su-27UBÌ aircraft started to lose altitude during an aerial acrobatic display at an airshow in Radom, Poland. Colonel Alexandr Marfitsky and Colonel Alexandr Zhuravlevich, pilots-snipers, highest category professionals, steered the aircraft to the maximal distance from the settlement and prevented graver consequences at the cost of their lives. Under the preliminary version the crash was caused by a bird entangled in the aircraft's engine. The case is being investigated by a panel of experts, established by the Belarusian Defence Ministry. The Defence Ministry expresses condolences to the relatives and friends of the servicemen killed.
August 28, 2009
Army Athlete Sergei Shundikov Becomes Silver Prize Winner at World Judo Championship
Belarusian judoist Sergei Shundikov has become a silver prize winner (under 81 kg) at the world championship held in Rotterdam, Holland.
The army athlete Sergei Shundikov, placed 3rd in the world rating in his weight class, was defeated by his Russian counterpart Ivan Nifontov, leader in the classification, who is also the 2009 European champion.
On the way to the finals the Belarusian athlete defeated five competitiors: Sandor Nagysolymosi of Hungary, Amaury Miguel Jiminez of the Dominican Republic, Hatem Abdelakher of Egypt, Axel Clerget of France and Kim Jae-Bum of South Korea, silver prize winner at the 2008 Olympiad.
August 28, 2009
Belarusian Pilots Taking Part in International Airshow
The pilots of the Belarusian air force and air defence are taking part in the 11th international airshow held in the city of Radom, Poland on August 27-31.
The Belarusian Armed Forces present the Su-24M front-line bomber of the 116th guards Radom Red Banner bombardment-reconnaissance airbase and the Il-76MD transport aircraft of the 50th Red Star Order combined airbase.
The programme of the airshow provides for a demonstration flight of the Belarusian Su-27 UBM multirole fighter.
August 19, 2009
Bronze in Skydiving Championship
Senior Warrant Officer Elena Yarmolchuk, army athlete, instructor of the Belarusian Armed Forces Sports Committee won a bronze medal in individual acrobatic jumps at the 34th world skydiving championship held in Lucenec, Slovakia. Irena Abel of Slovakia took the first place and Elena Laktionova of Russia was placed second.
Silver in Shooting
The world bullet shooting championship among service members was held in Zagreb, Croatia. Lieutenant Zhanna Shepelevich, army athlete, won a silver medal in pistol shooting, individual event.
August 14, 2009
Belarusian Pilots to Take Part in International Airshow
The air force and air defence pilots are to take part in the 11th international airshow, which will be held in Radom, Poland on August 27-31.
The Belarusian Armed Forces will present the Su-24M front-line bomber of the 116th guards Radom Red Banner bombardment-reconnaissance airbase and the Il-76MD transport aircraft of the 50th Red Star Order combined airbase.
The guests of the airshow will also see a demonstration flight of the Belarusian Su-27 UBM multirole fighter of the 61st fighter airbase, Western Operational-Tactical Command.
The airshow at the Radom-based airfield is traditionally attended by about 200,000 people. 25 countries received invitations to take part in the event.
August 13, 2009
Belarusian Inspection Group Conducts Inspection in Slovakia
On August 13-14, a Belarusian inspection group verified a specified area in Slovakia within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document. Belarusian inspectors confirmed the absence of military activity in the specified area, the fact that is subject to an advance notice under the 1999 Vienna Document. The Belarusian inspection group included a representative of Kyrgyzstan.
August 12, 2009
Working Visit of General Staff Chief
On August 13-14, Lieutenant General Sergei Gurulyov, chief of the Belarusian Armed Forces General Staff, first deputy defence minister of the Republic of Belarus, is to pay a working visit to the Russian Federation.
Under the programme of the visit, he is to meet with General of the Army Nikolai Makarov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, first deputy defence minister of the Russian Federation.
General-Lieutenant Sergei Gurulyov will see how military authorities and the 20th army of the Moscow Military District are preparing for the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
It is also planned to discuss the prospects of Belarus-Russian military cooperation.
August 10, 2009
Inspection in Slovakia
On August 10 - 12, 2009 a Belarusian inspection group is verifying a specified area in Slovakia within the framework of the 1999 Vienna Document. The purpose of the inspection is to confirm the absence of military activity in the specified area, the fact that is subject to an advance notice under the 1999 Vienna Document. The Belarusian inspection group includes a representative of Kyrgyzstan.
August 7, 2009
Joint Staff Training of 'Gods of War'
On August 5-6, the rocket forces and artillery of the Belarusian Armed Forces conducted joint staff training under the Armed Forces training plan for 2009. Major General Mikhail Puzikov, commander of the Armed Forces rocket forces and artillery, chief of directorate for rocket forces and artillery of the General Staff, exercised control of the training.
The participants were the directorate for rocket forces and artillery of the General Staff, rocket forces and artillery offices of operational commands, commanders and staffs of rocket and artillery units.
The main purpose of the training was to increase practical skills of commanders and staffs regarding the accomplishment of their service tasks.
The training was one of the stages of preparing the rocket forces and artillery commanders and stuffs for the Zapad-2009 operational-strategic exercise.
August 6, 2009
On August 8, Over 9,000 Servicemen to Take Oath
Over 9,000 servicemen, conscripted for service in regular units and reserve in July 2009, are to take military oath. The solemn ceremony is to be held in Belarusian military units on August 8, 2009.
According to the tradition, representatives of the Defence Ministry, Armed Forces commands, local authorities, public organisations, relatives and friends of the service members will come to the military units to congratulate the young soldiers.
In the course of the summer 2009 draft, about 10,000 conscripts have been sent to the Belarusian Armed Forces, other troops and military units, and about 2,000 men will serve in reserve.
August 4, 2009
Belarusian Inspection Group Working in Germany
On August 3 - 7, a Belarusian inspection group verifies two military units in Germany within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspection the group checks that the actual amount of the materiel, limited by the Treaty coincides with the declared figures.
July 30, 2009
Observation flight over Belarus
On July 29 - 31 within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty an observation flight of the mission of the Republic of Poland was held over the territory of the Republic of Belarus\Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board the Ukrainian observation aircraft AN-30B. The purpose of the flight was control over military activity on the territory of the observable states.
July 29, 2009
Belarusian and Ukrainian combat alert duty forces conducted a joint training
On June 28 in accordance with the Agreement between the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Belarus the Defence Ministry of Ukraine on the exchange of information about flights of aircrafts a training of the air defence duty forces of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was held.
The subject of the training is "Command of air defence duty forces of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Air Force of Ukraine".
The main tasks of the training were the improvement of the issues of cooperation between the air defence duty forces of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regarding the accomplishment of combat alert duty tasks, the increase of the efficiency of actions of combat crews at command posts regarding the command of air defence duty forces.
In the course of the training the duty forces were checked by control target flights without crossing the State border of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine, the actions of the air defence duty forces of the cooperating parties regarding the exchange of information about flights of aircrafts in the frontier zone were evaluated.
The participants of the training included administrative bodies and air defence duty forces of the two states, the combat crews of anti-aircraft rocket and radio engineering troops and the crews of aircrafts of Belarus and Ukraine.
This kind of training is held for the first time.
July 27, 2009
Observation flight over Belarus
On July 29 - 31 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty it is planned to conduct an observation flight of the mission of the Republic of Poland over the territory of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board the Ukrainian observation aircraft AN-30B for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable states.
July 24, 2009
Inspection group of Germany visited Belarus
On July 21 - 24 in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the Federal Republic of Germany under the direction of Colonel Michael Shoot visited the Republic of Belarus to conduct an inspection of the declared place. In the course of the inspection the 72nd guard joint training centre of warrant officers' and junior specialists' training, which is an object of control according to the provisions of the Treaty, was inspected.
The foreign military inspectors confirmed the correspondence between the armaments and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, and their declared quantity and the fulfillment by the Republic of Belarus of its commitments under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. Besides eight military inspectors from Germany the German inspection group included an inspector from Hungary.
July 22, 2009
On July 22 - 24, 2009 an official visit of the Defence Minister - the Secretary of the State Security Council of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Belarus will be held
On July 22 - 24, 2009 the official visit of the Defence Minister - the Secretary of the State Security Council of Turkmenistan Colonel Berdiev Yaylym Yagmyrovich will be held.
In the course of the visit issues of military cooperation will be discussed.
Success of army sportsmen
The European track and field championship among the youth (under 23) was held in Kaunas (Lithuania). The army sportsmen, who performed as members of the Belarusian national team, made their contribution to the success of the Belarusian team: a private soldier of the sports company of the Sports Committee of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus Denis Simanovich won a gold medal in 20-km-distance walking race and a sportsman-instructor sergeant Alina Talai won a bronze medal in 100-m-distance hurdle race.
On the whole Belarusians won 8 medals.
About 1,000 sportsmen from 43 countries took part in the competitions.
July 21, 2009
Group of inspectors from Germany visits Belarus
On July 21 - 24 in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the Federal Republic of Germany under the direction of Colonel Michael Shoot visits the Republic of Belarus to conduct an inspection. In the course of the inspection a military unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus (on inspectors' choice), which is an object of control according to the provisions of the Treaty, will be inspected. The aim of the inspection is the check-up of correspondence the armaments and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, and their declared quantity. Besides eight German military inspectors the German inspection group includes an inspector from Hungary.
July 17, 2009
Flight of a mission over Belarus
On July 12 - 17 within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty an observation flight of the mission of the Italian Republic and the United States of America was held over the territory of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board the Italian observation aircraft Ñ-130J for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable parties.
July 15, 2009
Military experts from Belarus work in Ukraine
On July 14 - 16 in Kiev (Ukraine) two representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus take part in the working meeting of the experts of the defence ministries of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine on the evaluation of the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of Ukraine on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures.
July 13, 2009
Observation flight over the territory of Belarus
On July 12 - 17 within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty the mission of the Italian Republic and the United States of America conducts an observation flight over the territory of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board the Italian observation aircraft C-130J. The aim of the observation flight is control over military activity on the territory of the observable parties.
July 10, 2009
Military inspectors from Belarus visited Poland
On 7 - 10 within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus conducted an inspection of two military units of the armed forces of the Republic of Poland, which are objects of control in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty. In the course of the inspections the correspondence between the armaments and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, on the inspected objects of control and their declared quantity was confirmed.
July 8, 2009
Success of the army sportsmen in the World Student Games-2009
On July 1 -12 the 25th World Summer Student Games are held in Belgrade. Young sportsmen and sportswomen from 143 countries gathered in these competitions. The army athletes of the Belarusian student national team successfully perform.
An army sportsman Warrant Officer Svetlana Khokhlova won a gold medal in 50-m-distance butterfly swimming, having shown the result of 25.97 seconds. Currently Svetlana has set up the fifth result in the world this season. Besides, she has set up a new record of Belarus. In the semifinal race Svetlana also showed the result, which exceeds the country's record of 26.47 seconds.
In the semifinal of the World Student Games-2009 Svetlana Khokhlova was the second, but in the final race she improved her position. An Italian Kristina Maccaniola won a silver medal and a Chinese Khon Venven became a bronze prize winner.
Within the framework of the World Student Games-2009 tae kwon do fights, in which an army sportsman Igor Rosokhatsky performed, were also held. In stubborn fight Igor won a bronze medal in the 84-kg weight class.
July 7, 2009
Representative of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus takes part in an observation flight
On July 6 - 10 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty a representative of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus takes part in the observation flight of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties over the territory of the Republic of Poland on board the Russian observation aircraft AN-30B. In the course of the observation flight control over military activity on the territory of the observable party will be carried out.
July 6, 2009
Inspection group of Ukraine visits Belarus
On July 6 - 10 within the framework of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of Ministries of Ukraine on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures an inspection group of Ukraine under the direction of Colonel Igor Turansky will conduct an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Belarus and an evaluation visit of the 1199th rocket artillery regiment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. The aims of the verification activities are to confirm the absence of large-scale military activity, which should be reported in advance in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document 1999, in the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Belarus and to evaluate information presented by the Republic of Belarus to the OSCE states-parties within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999 regarding the personnel, the main armament systems and military equipment of the visited military unit
July 2, 2009
Observation flight over the territory of Poland
On June 6 - 10 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty a representative of the Republic of Belarus will take part in the observation flight of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties over the territory of the Republic of Poland on board the Russian observation aircraft AN-30B. In the course of the observation flight control over military activity on the territory of the observable party will be carried out.
June 29, 2009
Visit of the NATO working group to the Republic of Belarus
On June 20 - 27 a visit of the working group of the NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum to the Republic of Belarus was held. Within the framework of the visit studies with the officers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus were conducted. The main aim of the visit was the preparation of the Belarusian service members for work in the staffs of the multinational armed forces.
Military inspection on the territory of Belarus
On June 22 - 27 in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the French Republic under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Allen Mulia visited the Republic of Belarus. In the course of the inspection on inspectors' choice the 814th centre of technical support and the 61st fighter airbase of the Armed Forces, which are objects of control according to the provisions of the Treaty, were inspected. Foreign military inspectors confirmed the correspondence between the armaments and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, and their declared quantity and fulfillment by the Republic of Belarus of its commitments under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.
June 26, 2009
Preparation for the holiday parade of troops ends
Preparation for the parade of troops, dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the German-Nazi invaders is coming to its completion phase.
On June 27 and 30 the general training of forces and means, which will take part in the ceremonial march of troops, will be held at the crossing of Pobediteley and Masherov avenues.
The parade formation will consist of 21 parade crews, which will include cadets of Minsk Suvorov Military School, servicemen of the Guard of Honour of the Armed Forces, the 120th guard separate mechanised brigade, cadets of the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus, cadets of the military faculty of the Belarusian State Technical University, soldiers of the 86th signal brigade, transport troops and the Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus, servicemen of the forces of special operations of the Belarusian army, interior troops and the Ministry for Emergency Situations.
Modern military equipment of the Armed Forces and models of the equipment of the Great Patriotic War period, specially restored by the enthusiasts of the republican fund "Memory of Afghan" and the specialists of Belarusian defence enterprises for the participation in the celebration, will also take part in the parade of troops.
The flight groups "Wings of Belarus" and "Belaya Rus" will show their flying mastery as members of the air echelon.
The Great Patriotic War veterans will traditionally become the main participants of the ceremonial procession. They will pass before the holiday tribunes in specially equipped automobiles.
June 25, 2009
Belarusian military inspectors visit France
On June 22 - 27 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus conducts inspections of two military units of the armed forces of the French Republic within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspections the correspondence between the armaments and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, and their declared quantity will be checked.
June 23, 2009
Observation flight of the USA and Bulgaria mission
On June 22 - 27 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty the joint mission of the United States of America and the Republic of Bulgaria conducts an observation flight over the territory of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board the observation aircraft OC-135B for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable states.
June 17, 2009
Military attaches visited the 120th separate mechanised brigade
On June 15 the representatives of the military-diplomatic corps, accredited to the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Belarus visited the 120th separate guard mechanised brigade of the North-Western Operational Command of the Land Forces.
In the course of the visit to the military unit military attaches got acquainted with the small arms, the training simulators and with the organisation of combat training studies. The commander of the Land Forces Major General Alexander Nikitin met with the military diplomats.
June 15, 2009
Group of the Polish inspectors visits a military unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces
On June 16 - 18 within the framework of the Agreement on Additional Confidence- and Security-Building Measures to the Vienna Document 1999, adopted by the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Poland, a group of the Polish inspectors under the direction of Colonel Zbignev Pluskota will conduct a visit on the evaluation of the 1199th composite artillery regiment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. The aim of the visit is evaluation of information, presented by the Republic of Belarus to the OSCE states parties within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999 regarding the personnel, the main armament systems and military equipment.
June 12, 2009
Military topographers of the Commonwealth of Independent States met in Astana
As the secretariat of the CIS Defence Ministers Council reported, a regular meeting of the Coordination Committee of topographic services of CIS armed forces under the CIS Defence Ministers Council was held on June 10, 2009 in Astana (the Republic of Kazakhstan).
Representatives of the defence ministries of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and Ukraine as well as a representative of the Secretariat of the CIS Defence Ministers Council took part in the work of the Committee.
The participants summarised the joint activity and approved the plan of the further work of the Coordination Committee.
The draft of the Long-Term Plan of Work of the Coordination Committee until 2015 as well as the drafts of the plans of the main activities on the realisation of the Conception of Navigational-Temporary and Topogeodesic Support of the United Command System of Tactical Level for the CIS Armed Forces and the Conception of the Creation of Digital Cartographic Data Bank on Strategic Continental Districts for the CIS armed forces were approved at the meeting. These documents will be submitted for approval at the next meeting of the CIS Defence Ministers Council.
The participants of the meeting analysed the course of practical implementation of the Plan of Realisation of the Conception of the United Geoinformation System of Military Purpose for the CIS Armed Forces, discussed a number of other issues of multilateral cooperation.
The meeting has passed in a constructive and business atmosphere, the aims, set up for its participants, have been fully achieved, all the submitted drafts of the Coordination Committee's decisions have been signed.
It is planned to hold the next meeting of the Coordination Committee of topographic services of CIS armed forces under the CIS Defence Ministers Council in May, 2010 in Dushanbe (the Republic of Tajikistan).
June 8, 2009
Inspection group of Belarus to visit the Latvian Republic
On June 8 - 11 within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus will conduct an inspection of a specified area on the territory of the Latvian Republic. The aim of the inspection is to confirm the absence of military activity, which should be reported in advance in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document 1999, in the specified area.
Besides, in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty, a representative of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus will take part in an observation flight of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties over the territory of the Latvian Republic for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable party.
Group of experts of the European Commission to visit Belarus
On June 8 - 11 within the framework of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction the group of experts of the European Commission is to visit Belarus. The aim of the visit is to render international technical assistance for the implementation of the project on the liquidation of anti-personnel mines of PFM-1 type in Belarus.
June 5, 2009
Observation flight of the mission of Spain over the territory of Belarus
On June 1 - 5, 2009 within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty the mission of the Kingdom of Spain conducted an observation flight over the territory of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board the French observation aircraft S-130N. The flight was aimed at control over military activity on the territory of the observable states.
Inspection group of the Republic of Bulgaria visited Belarus
On June 2 - 5, 2009 in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the Republic of Bulgaria visited the Republic of Belarus. In the course of the inspection the 181st combat helicopter base of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, which is an object of control according to the provisions of the Treaty, was inspected. Foreign inspectors confirmed the correspondence between the armament and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, and their declared quantity. Besides seven military inspectors from Bulgaria the inspection group included one inspector from Belgium and Germany.
Observation flight over the territory of Germany
On June 2 - 6, 2009 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty a representative of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus took part in the observation flight of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties over the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany on board the Russian observation aircraft AN-30B for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable party.
June 4, 2009
Victorious triumph of the army sportsmen
Last weekend a lap of the "Grand Slam" on judo was held in Moscow. Wrestlers from 40 countries including the winners of the Olympic Games, world and European championships met on tatami. Among the wrestlers of the Belarusian national team were army sportsmen Captain Sergei Shundikov and Senior Lieutenant Alexander Steshenko.
Sergei Shundikov wrestled in the 81-kg weight class. In the final our army sportsman defeated the titled German
athlete Oliver Bishof and rose to the highest step of the pedestal. Captain Sergei Shundikov dedicated this victory to his father Victor Pavlovich Shundikov, who celebrated his birthday that day.
Another army sportsman Senior Sergeant Alexander Steshenko won a silver medal.
Andrei Kazusenok, who wrestled in the 91-kg weight class, won another silver medal for the Belarusian national team.
Army pentathletes fought for medals
On May 25 -31 regional competitions on military pentathlon were held in Lecce (Italy) under the aegis of the International Military Sports Council (CISM). 57 sportsmen from 8 countries took part in the competitions.
In the team event among men the national team of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus with 20,984.2 points took 3rd place, the Danish team with 21,467.3 points took 1st place and the German team with 21,400.9 points took 2nd place.
In the team event among women the national team of the Armed Forces of Belarus rose to the third step of the podium with 12,499.2 points, the Italian team rose to the first step with15,418.3 points, the team of the Netherlands rose to the second step with 14,551.6 points.
Andrei Belorusets - a third-year cadet of the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus became the winner in the "Best Beginner" nomination.
Army sportsman took first place in the "Bigbank Kuldiiga" tournament on track and field
A "Bigbank Kuldiiga" tournament on track and field was held in the Estonian town of Iogova. An army sportsman Sergeant Artem Zaitsev, having cleared the bar at the height of 2.27 metres, topped the bill. As the trainer of the sergeant, the honoured trainer of Belarus Vladimir Fomichev noted: "The competitions among service members, the world championship in Berlin and the Student Games will become the main starts for Artem".
Success of the army sportswomen in freestyle wrestling
Belarusian sportswomen successfully performed in the international tournament in Dormagen. In the competitions among adult freestyle wrestlers they won two bronze medals for the national team. One of these medals was won by an army sportswoman Elena Filippova, who performed in the 59-kg weight class.
June 1, 2009
Army sportsmen won gold
Belarusian sportsmen performed successfully in the European Thai boxing championship. Men won 4 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals. A sportsman of the sports company of the Sports Committee of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus a private soldier Andrey Kulebin won a silver medal in the 67-kg weight class. Women won 7 medals of different value.
May 29, 2009
Meeting of the armed forces representatives of Belarus and Germany
On May 26 - 28 the working meeting of the armed forces representatives of the Republic of Belarus and the Federal Republic of Germany on the issues of arms control was held in Minsk. The German delegation in the negotiations was headed by the Chief of the Centre for the Verification Tasks of the Bundeswehr Brigadier General Vinfrid Mertens.
Military inspections on the territory of Bulgaria and Romania
On May 25 - 28 the Republic of Belarus conducted inspections of the specified areas on the territories of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999. In the course of the inspections the absence of the military activity, which should be reported in advance in accordance with the provisions of the document, in the specified areas was confirmed. The inspection groups of the Republic of Belarus included inspectors from the Russian Federation. Inspectors from the Republic of Belarus, in their turn, being included in the inspection groups of the Russian Federation, took part in the inspections of the specified areas on the territories of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999.
Command-staff exercise with the 11-th separate mechanised brigade
In accordance with the training plan of the Armed Forces a command-staff exercise with the 11-th separate guard mechanised brigade was held on May 26 - 28, 2009.
In the course of the exercise the issues of the brigade's preparation for the accomplishment of the service tasks and the issues of the improvement of coordination of the military units' staffs were worked out.
On May 27 the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - the First Deputy Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus Lieutenant General Sergey Gurulev visited the areas of the exercise.
In the course of the work the Chief of the General Staff heard the officials of the military unit, evaluated the quality of the military units' command.
Lieutenant General Sergey Gurulev paid special attention to the training of the military unit's officers, to their knowledge of the modern tendencies of the all-arms battle's development, of the order and peculiarities of support regarding the difficult and dynamically changeable situation.
Observation flight of the Spanish mission over the territory of Belarus
On June 1 - 5 within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty it is planned to conduct an observation flight of the mission of the Kingdom of Spain over the territory of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board of the observation aircraft S-130N for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable states.
Inspection group of the Republic of Bulgaria to visit Belarus
On June 2 - 5 in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the Republic of Bulgaria is to visit the Republic of Belarus. In the course of the inspection a military unit (on the inspectors' choice), which is an object of control according to the provisions of the Treaty, will be inspected. The aim of the inspection is the check-up of correspondence between the armament and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, and their declared quantity. Besides seven military inspectors from Bulgaria the inspection group includes one inspector from Belgium and Germany.
May 27, 2009
Visit of the Belarusian Defence Minister to Vietnam
On May 26 - 29, 2009 the official visit of the Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is held in accordance with the invitation of the Vietnamese party.
Within the framework of the visit the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Triet met with the Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus Colonel General Leonid Maltsev and the negotiations with the Defence Minister of the Vietnam General of the Army Phung Kuang Tkhan were held. In the course of the negotiations the parties discussed issues of development of cooperation in the military sphere.
On May 27, 2009 the heads of the military departments of the two countries signed the Agreement between the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on military cooperation.
In the course of the visit the Belarusian and Vietnamese parties confirmed the mutual interest in development of bilateral relations in all directions including the sphere of military cooperation.
Working meeting of the armed forces representatives of Belarus and Germany
On May 26 - 28 a working meeting of the armed forces representatives of the Republic of Belarus and the Federal Republic of Germany on the issues of arms control is held in Minsk. The German delegation in the negotiations is headed by the Chief of the Centre for the Verification Tasks of the Bundeswehr Brigadier General Vinfrid Mertens.
May 26, 2009
Air Force and Air Defence command staff meeting
On May 26 - 28 on the basis of the 206th assault airbase under the direction of the Air Force and Air Defence Commander Major General Igor Azarenok a three-day operational-tactical and methodical meeting of the Air Force and Air Defence command staff is held.
The main aims of the meeting are to increase the level of professional training, to improve theoretical knowledge and practical skills of officers regarding fulfillment of their service duties on command of military units.
Special attention will be paid to the issues of new forms and ways of use, tactical methods of use, new approaches to the forming of Air Defence system, Air Force and Air Defence military units in modern conditions.
Some studies will be connected with the conduct of information counteraction and vitality support of the military units of the Operational-tactical Command regarding the repulse of the attacks of air assault means.
On the basis of the 206th assault airbase the studies on the training of the airbase personnel's actions regarding the prevention of the unauthorised takeoff and landing of an aircraft will be held. Besides, the actions of the composite airbase detachment on the liquidation of the consequences of fire and destructions will be worked out. On completion of the studies the pilots of the pilot group "Belaya Rus" will show their mastery.
May 25, 2009
Belarusian military inspectors visit Bulgaria and Romania
On May 25 - 28 the Republic of Belarus is to conduct inspections of specified areas on the territories of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999. The aim of the inspections is to confirm the absence of the military activity, which should be reported in advance in accordance with the provisions of the mentioned document, in the specified areas. The inspection groups of the Republic of Belarus included inspectors from the Russian Federation. The inspectors from the Republic of Belarus, in their turn, being included in the inspection groups of the Russian Federation, will take part in the inspections of the specified areas on the territories of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999.
May 22, 2009
Army sportsman is a gold medalist
On May 14 - 17 the international wushu tournament of "A" category, in which five sportsmen represented the Republic of Belarus, was held in Warsaw (Poland). The sportsmen won two bronze, two silver and one gold medal. A sportsman-instructor of the Sports Committee of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus Senior Lieutenant Sergey Ivanov, who defeated a Polish sportsman in the final, became the winner in the weight class under 65 kg.
More than 200 sportsmen from 12 countries took part in the tournament.
May 21, 2009
International military cooperation - the state and prospects of development discussed
Tomorrow, on May 22, the 5th International Exhibition of Armament and Military Equipment "MILEX-2009" ends. The exposition of the exhibition united not only the manufacturers of military purpose equipment, but also has become a mass forum of mutually beneficial communication of specialists and armed forces representatives from many countries.
Within the framework of the exhibition head of the military department of the Republic of Belarus Colonel General Leonid Maltsev met with the foreign military delegations, which arrived in Minsk. Among the military delegations were the delegations of Ukraine and Sudan, headed by the defence ministers, Iran, Tajikistan and Turkey, headed by the deputy defence ministers, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates, headed by the chiefs of General Staffs, China, headed by a member of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, the Sultanate of Oman, headed by the deputy chief of the General Staff, and the delegations of the armed forces of Russia, Armenia, Libya, Syria and Thailand.
In the course of the meetings the modern state and the prospects of development of international cooperation in the military sphere were discussed. The basis of these constructive dialogues was the agreement of opinions that in modern conditions the main efforts in the military cooperation should be aimed at the accomplishment of the tasks of peacekeeping and regional and international security.
May 20, 2009
Army sambo wrestlers won medals
On May 15 - 17 the European sambo championship among men and women was held in Milan (Italy). The Belarusian national team won four gold, three silver and five bronze medals. The army sportsmen also made their weighty contribution to the general event. Marina Zharskaya (52 kg weight class) won a gold medal, Larisa Balan (80 kg) won bronze. The women's team took third place in the general event, being defeated by the Russian and Bulgarian sambo wrestlers. The men's national team was the second in the general team event, being defeated by the Russian sportsmen.
Army sportsmen won bronze
An army sportsman Kirill Relikh (60 kg weight class) won a bronze medal in the international boxing tournament, which was held in the Czech Republic. On the whole Belarusians won one gold and two bronze medals in this tournament.
May 19, 2009
5th International Exhibition of Armament and Military Equipment MILEX-2009
The 5th International Exhibition of Armament and Military Equipment MILEX-2009 opened on May 19 in Minsk.
The event is to be held on May 19 - 22 in the exhibition centre "BelExpo" (14, Pobediteley avenue, Minsk, Republic of Belarus).
MILEX-2009 is organised with the assistance of the State Secretariat of the Security Council of Belarus, the State Military-Industrial Committee, ministries of defence, internal affairs, industry, foreign affairs, for emergency situations, trade, education, the State Committee for Science and Technologies, the National Academy of Sciences, the State Security Committee, the State Customs Committee, Minsk City Executive Committee. Traditionally the Belarusian enterprise-special exporter "Beltekhexport" will be the general sponsor.
The aim of the exhibition is the demonstration of products of defence enterprises and enterprises, which manufacture dual-purpose production, assistance in the establishment of relations between manufacturers and consumers of defence industry production, making contracts in the sphere of armaments' modernisation, popularisation of military equipment and the increase of the army's prestige.
The area of the exhibition pavilions is 1,600 sq m, 2,700 sq m are in the open air. 141 enterprises applied for the participation in the exhibition.
May 18, 2009
Military delegations of Ukraine and the Azerbaijani Republic arrived in Belarus
Tomorrow the 5th International Exhibition of Armament and Military Equipment "MILEX-2009" is to begin in Minsk. Today the military delegations of Ukraine and the Azerbaijani Republic arrived in the Republic of Belarus.
Within the framework of the Ukrainian delegation's visit the meeting of the Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus Colonel General Leonid Maltsev and the Ukrainian Defence Minister Yuri Ekhanurov was held. In the course of the meeting the heads of military departments noted the regularity and efficiency of the conducted activities of bilateral military cooperation between the two countries and the real prospects of its further development.
Cooperation in the sphere of peacemaking activity, engineering support of troops, military education, improvement of the service members' and their families' health is in the focus of constant attention of the Belarusian and Ukrainian military departments.
Today the Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus Colonel General Leonid Maltsev and the Ukrainian Defence Minister Yuri Ekhanurov signed an agreement between the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Belarus and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry on the exchange of information concerning aircrafts' flights and a statement on order of organisation of information exchange between the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Belarus and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.
The signed documents give a new impulse to the military cooperation between the two countries and determine a whole range of new joint activities in the military sphere.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - the First Deputy Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus Lieutenant General Sergei Gurulev met with the head of the Azerbaijani military delegation the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - the First Deputy Defence Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Colonel General Najmeddin Sadykov. In the course of the meeting the parties discussed state and further prospects of military cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Azerbaijani Republic.
Tomorrow the military delegations will take part in the 5th International Exhibition of Armament and Military Equipment "MILEX-2009".
Preparation for the operational-strategic exercise "West-2009"
On May 12 - 16 within the framework of the preparation for the operational-strategic exercise "West-2009" the reconnaissance of the areas, where it is planned to conduct the operational-strategic exercise and which are situated in the Vitebsk and Minsk regions, was held. The plan of the troops' practical actions was also specified.
In the course of the reconnaissance groups' work representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation coordinated the presentation order of the main combat training episodes, the routes of the troops' moving-out, the areas of their concentration, the issues of logistic and technical support and the organisation of signal and commandant service.
May 15, 2009
Representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces visit an airbase and a military unit of the armed forces of the Netherlands
On May 12 - 15 within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999 two representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus take part in the visits of an airbase and a military unit of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, organised for the OSCE member states.
May 14, 2009
Army sportsman took third place in judo
Last week a Grand Prix judo tournament was held in Tunisia. A sportsman-instructor of the educational-sports department of the Armed Forces' Sports Committee of the Republic of Belarus Senior Sergeant Alexander Steshenko (81 kg weight class), who defeated a Pole Lukash Blash and a Frenchman Antuan Zhanin and was defeated by the 2008 Olympic champion a German wrestler Ole Bishof, took part in the competitions. The army sportsman took the third place.
May 14, 2009
Belarusian army sportsmen won gold in fencing
On May 6 - 12 the European fencing championship among service members was held in Goteborg (Sweden). In the team championship of the competitions the combined team of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, which included Lieutenant Colonel Vitaly Zakharov, Sergeant Dmitry Monich and a sportsman-instructor Evgeny Sazonov, rose to the highest step of the pedestal, defeating the teams of Sweden, Poland, Holland, Hungary and Ukraine.
May 12, 2009
Inspection group of Italy visits Belarus
On May 12 - 15 within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the Italian Republic visits the Republic of Belarus to conduct an inspection on demand within the specified area. The aim of the inspection is to confirm the absence of conventional arms and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, in the specified area, except the territories of the military units. Besides five Italian military inspectors the inspection group will include one inspector from Hungary, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands.
May 8, 2009
Representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces visited an airbase and a military unit in Turkey
On May 5 - 7 within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999 two representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus took part in the visits to an airbase and a military unit of the Armed Forces of the Turkish Republic. The mentioned visits are organized by every OSCE member- state once every five years according to the provisions of the Vienna Document 1999.
Observation flight
On May 4 - 8 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty two representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus took part in an observation flight of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States-Parties on board the Russian observation aircraft AN-30B over the territory of the Lithuanian Republic. The flight was conducted for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable party.
May 6, 2009
Servicemen awarded
For exemplary fulfillment of service duties the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko conferred state awards on the servicemen. The Chief of Staff - the First Deputy Commander of the North-Western Operational Command of the Armed Forces Major General Ivan Chaus was awarded with the Order "For Service to the Motherland" 2nd class. The First Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Colonel Sergey Bakhchevan, the Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence Major General Vladimir Bashtanenko, the Chief of the Main Military Inspection Major General Gennady Shavrov were awarded with the Order "For Service to the Motherland" 3rd class.
Military attaches visited the 181st combat helicopter base
The representatives of the military-diplomatic corps, accredited under the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Belarus, visited the 181st combat helicopter base of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence.
Among the 16 attaches were the representatives of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Syria, France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Baltic and Scandinavian States.
The representatives of the military-diplomatic corps got acquainted with the history of creation, structure and tasks of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Belarusian Armed Forces and the Belarusian military pilots' training system.
The guests were interested in the demonstration of combat helicopters and their armament.
May 4, 2009
Observation flight over the territory of Lithuania
On May 4 - 8 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty two representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus take part in the observation flight of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States-Parties on board the Russian observation aircraft AN-30B over the territory of the Lithuanian Republic. The flight is conducted for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable party.
April 25, 2009
Representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces to take part in an observation flight over the territory of Poland
Between April 27 and May 1 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Skies Treaty a representative of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus is to take part in an observation flight of the Republic of Belarus/Russian Federation Group of States-Parties over the territory of the Republic of Poland for the purpose of control over military activity on the territory of the observable party.
April 20, 2009
On April 21 a working visit of Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Anatoly Serdyukov to the Republic of Belarus to be held
In accordance with the plan of bilateral cooperation between Defence Ministries of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on April 21, 2009 a working visit of Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Anatoly Serdyukov is to be held.
In the course of the visit Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev will meet with the Russian counterpart in "one-on-one" format.
On April 21 the heads of the military departments of two countries will take part in a regular sitting of the joint Collegium of the Russian and Belarusian Defence Ministries. In the course of the sitting it is planned to consider the issues related to the state and further development of cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in the military sphere.
Military inspections on the territory of Belarus to be held
On April 21 - 24 in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe inspection groups from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Hungarian Republic are to visit the Republic of Belarus simultaneously. In the course of the inspections every inspection group will check one military unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus (on inspectors' choice), which is subjected to control in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The aim of both inspections is the check up of correspondence between the armaments and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, and their declared quantity. Besides eight military inspectors from Germany the German inspection group will include an inspector from the United Kingdome. Besides three Hungarian inspectors the Hungarian inspection group will include one inspector from Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdome, Germany and the Czech Republic.
April 17, 2009
New appointments
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has appointed Aleksei Yevstigneyev Deputy Commander of the Western Operative Command of the Armed Forces of Belarus, relieving him of the post of the Chief of Staff, First Deputy Commander of the Western Operative Command of the Armed Forces.
Major-General Alexander Roiko has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Western Operative Command. He was relieved of the post of the Deputy Commander of the Western Operative Command of the Armed Forces.
The head of state signed relevant decrees on April 16.
Military inspectors from Belarus to visit the Czech Republic
On April 21 - 23 within the framework of the Vienna Document 1999 an inspection group from the Republic of Belarus is to conduct an inspection of a specified area on the territory of the Czech Republic. The aim of the inspection is to confirm the absence of the military activity, which should be reported in advance in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document 1999, in the specified area.
April 14, 2009
Observation flight of the USA mission
On April 14 - 16 within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty an observation flight of the mission of the United States of America above the territory of the Republic of Belarus/the Russian Federation Group of States Parties on board the American observation aircraft OC-135B for the purpose of control of military activity on the territory of the observed states is being held.
April 13, 2009
Inspection of a "Belneftekhim" enterprise
On April 13 - 17 an inspection group of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is conducting an inspection of an enterprise of the Belarusian State Concern for Oil and Chemistry "Belneftekhim" in accordance with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.
April 10, 2009
Belarusian military inspectors visited Germany
On April 6 - 10 within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus conducted inspections of two military units of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany (on inspectors' choice). In the course of the inspections the coincidence between the quantity of armaments and military equipment, limited by the Treaty, on the inspected objects of control and their declared quantity was confirmed.
April 9, 2009
10th military-scientific conference in the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus
On April 9 - 10 in the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus the military-scientific conference titled "Problem issues of the theory and practice of military development and military art, of creation and modernization of armaments in modern conditions and ways of their decision" is being held.
Within the two days participants of the conference will analyse the results of scientific researches on the issues of military development, military art, creation, modernisation and use of armaments in modern conditions. They will also work out proposals and concrete recommendations on the main issues of the scientific support of military development.
April 7, 2009
Torsion fields in defence sphere
On April 1 - 2 at the base of the Military Academy a seminar of scientists of the research department titled "The use of torsion fields in the defence sphere" was held.
The leading scientists of the Institute of Physics, the Institute of Physical Chemistry, the Institute of Heat Exchange and representatives of the interested departments also took part in the seminar.
The participants of the event got acquainted with the theoretical bases and informed about the results of experiments conducted in this sphere, particularly about the possibility to use the known interaction, which becomes apparent in the distant transfer of torsion stresses, and discussed the possibility of creation of a torsion fields generator.
The speed of torsion waves is supposed to exceed the speed of light tenfold. Their property to transfer information in a flash for exorbitant distances opens new possibilities in the creation of control and communications systems. There are other perspective directions of the use of torsion waves in the military sphere, for example, the increase of armour hardness.
Currently the interest towards torsion fields in academic circles is increasing. The physical nature and the possibility of the applied use of this phenomenon are studied not only in Belarus. In Russia the International Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and the Intersectoral Scientific and Technology Centre of Venture and Non-Traditional Technologies deal with this subject matter.
April 2, 2009
Delegation of the Russian military department to visit Minsk
In accordance with the achieved agreements on April 6, 2009 a delegation of the Russian military department, headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the First Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation General of the Army Nikolay Makarov, is to visit Minsk. In the course of the two-day visit Belarusian and Russian parts are planning to discuss the state and prospects of military cooperation. Among the most important issues of the meeting is the organisation of the strategic exercise "West-2009", which is to be held on the territory of Belarus in September-October of the current year.
March 2, 2009
Annual Meeting for Implementation Review of the Vienna Document 1999
On March 2 - 5, 2009 the 19th Annual Meeting for Implementation Review of the Vienna Document 1999 of the Negotiations on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBMs) will be held in Vienna (the Austrian Republic). Practical and topical issues of the implementation of the Vienna Document 1999 by OSCE-countries will be in the focus of attention.
Chief of the National Agency for Verification and Inspections - Department of the Ministry of Defence Colonel Oleg Gorbach as a member of the Belarusian delegation takes part in the 19th CSBMs Meeting.
Visit of the Minister of Defence of the Syrian Arab Republic
Today a delegation of the Ministry of Defence of the Syrian Arab Republic arrived on an official visit to the Republic of Belarus. Minister of Defence General Hasan al-Turkmani heads the delegation.
On March 3 Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev will meet with the head of the Syrian delegation.
The Syrian military specialists will visit the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus and a number of defence enterprises.
The visit of the delegation of the Ministry of Defence of the Syrian Arab Republic will end on March 5, 2009.
February 3, 2009
Inspection of the specified area on the territory of Lithuania
On February 3-4, 2009 within frameworks of the Vienna Document 1999 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus will conduct an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Lithuanian Republic. The inspection will be aimed at confirmation of absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999 in the specified area.
February 2, 2009
Minister of Defence to partake in international activities
On February 3, 2009 Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev will take part in the sitting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. Issues of deepening cooperation in military and military-technical spheres between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation will be discussed.
On February 4, 2009 head of the Belarusian military department will take part in the Council of Defence Ministers within frameworks of the special session of the CSTO Collective Security Council. In the course of the Council's sitting aspects of development of the military component of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will be discussed.
Both sittings will be held in Moscow (the Russian Federation).
Development of cooperation with foreign military partners
An annual meeting of representatives of military-diplomatic corps in Belarus with officials of Belarus' army took place in the Central Officers' Club of the Armed Forces. Military attaches of NATO-countries and CSTO-countries arrived to exchange opinions, conduct a constructive dialogue on topical issues of cooperation in the sphere of defence. Belarus considers development of constructive cooperation with foreign military partners to be a very important trend of activity to provide military security.
Heads of military-diplomatic departments of Canada. Sweden, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia and etc. visited the meeting. Representatives of Belarus' military department informed military diplomats about modern aspects of the Belarusian Armed Forces' development, results of combat training in 2008 and other topical issues of the Belarusian army's activity.
December 3, 2008
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus
Today Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Rajendra Kumar Tyagi in view of termination of his diplomatic mission in our country.
Issues of current and further development of military cooperation of Belarus and India were discussed.
Head of the military department of the Republic of Belarus extended condolences to the Head of the Indian diplomatic mission over the human casualties of the terrorist attack in Mumbai. Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev stressed the need to develop bilateral military cooperation of two countries.
The Ambassador of India thanked the Minister of Defence for the Belarusian military department's active position in tackling the issues related to the development of cooperation between the two countries in military sphere.
December 2, 2008
Head of State Makes Promotions to the Military Rank of Major-General
On December 2, the President of the Republic of Belarus signed Decrees on promoting Colonel Dmitry Pakhmelkin and Colonel Vladimir Sulimov to the rank of Major-Generals.
November 14, 2008
Mission of Benelux conducted an observation flight
On November 14, 2008 in accordance with the Open Skies Treaty the mission of the Benelux member-states conducted an observation flight over the territory of the Belarus-Russia Group of States Parties. The flight was conducted by the observation aircraft C-130H. It was aimed at control over military activity on the territory of observable states.
Belarusian military inspectors visited the Republic of Poland
On November 13, 2008 within frameworks of the Agreement on additional confidence and security measures between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Poland an inspection group of Belarus conducted an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Poland.
In the course of the inspection the absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Poland was confirmed.
Inspection group of Lithuania inspected the 206th assault aviation base of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus
On November 13, 2008 within frameworks of the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Lithuanian Republic on Additional Confidence and Security-Building Measures an inspection group of the Lithuanian Republic conducted an evaluation visit of the 206th assault aviation base of the Armed Forces of Republic of Belarus.
In the course of the visit the military information, which the Republic of Belarus had provided to OSCE participating states within frameworks of the Vienna Document, 1999 in reference to personnel, main weapon systems and military equipment, was evaluated.
An inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to visit Belarus
On November 17 - 20, 2008 an inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will visit the Republic of Belarus in compliance with the CFE Treaty.
In the course of the inspection a military unit (at inspectors' option) which is an object of verification according to the Treaty will be inspected.
The inspection will be aimed at check-up of correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity.
The inspection group will include eight military inspectors from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and one inspector from the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Spain.
October 3, 2008
Inspection group of the Federal Republic of Germany to visit Belarus
On October 7-10, 2008 an inspection group of the Federal Republic of Germany will visit the Republic of Belarus in accordance with Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty).
The inspection will be aimed at checkup of correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity.
In the course of the inspection a military unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, which is an object of verification under the CFE Treaty, will be inspected.
The inspection group will include eight German military inspectors and an inspector from Luxemburg.
September 25, 2008
Defence Minister of Vietnam to pay an official visit to Belarus
The Minister of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Army General Phung Quang Thanh will pay an official visit to Belarus on September 28-30, 2008.
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev will meet with the Head of the Vietnamese military department. Within frameworks of the visit negotiations of delegations will be held. In the course of the negotiations the delegations will discuss prospects of further development of bilateral military cooperation between Belarus and Vietnam.
The delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence will visit the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus.
September 24, 2008
Military cooperation is developing
On September 24 - 26, 2008 a quadrilateral meeting of representatives of international military cooperation departments of defence ministries from the Republic of Belarus, the Lithuanian Republic, the Republic of Poland and Ukraine is held in Minsk.
Within frameworks of the quadrilateral meeting bilateral consultations and a "round-table" sitting will be held. In the course of the sittings the sides will discuss issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and will determine main trends of further development of cooperation.
August 4, 2008
Inspection group of Belarus to inspect military units of the Federal Republic of Germany
On August 5-7, 2008 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus will inspect two military units of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspection correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity will be checked.
July 30, 2008
Meeting with authorities of Bundeswehr Verification Centre
On July 30, 2008 a delegation of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus will take part in a working meeting with authorities of Bundeswehr Verification Centre (Geilenkirchen, the Federal Republic of Germany). Chief of the National Agency for Verification and Inspections - Department of the Ministry of Defence Colonel Oleg Gorbach heads the Belarusian delegation. In the course of the meeting issues of bilateral cooperation in the sphere of arms control will be discussed.
July 22, 2008
Meeting of representatives of military-topographic services of Belarus and Lithuania
On July 22 - 25, 2008 a meeting of representatives of military-topographic services of Belarus and Lithuania will take place in Vilnius (Lithuania).
Representatives of armed forces of two countries will discuss development of a draft technical agreement between defence ministries in the sphere of military topography, geodesy and cartography. In the course of the visit representatives of the Belarusian military department will visit Military Cartography Centre of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and Institute of Aerogeodesy, will study experience of creation of cartography materials, will familiarize themselves with aspects of use of modern special technical means. Besides consultations with the Lithuanian specialists on creation of geospatial information, which is necessary for military simulators, will be held.
July 15, 2008
Intergovernmental Agreement between Government of Belarus and Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was signed
On July 11, 2008 negotiations of Chairman of the State Military-Industrial Committee Nikolai Azamatov with General Khalid J AL-Sarayreh, Chairman of the Joint Committee of Chiefs of Staffs of the Jordan Armed Forces took place.
An Agreement on military-technical cooperation between Government of Belarus and Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was signed.
From the Belarusian side the document was signed by Chairman of the State Military- Industrial Committee, from the Jordan side by Chairman of the Joint Committee of Chiefs of Staffs of the Jordan Armed Forces.
Nikolai Azamatov and General Khalid J AL-Sarayreh discussed practical realization of the Agreement and outlined prospective cooperation.
July 10, 2008
Visit of Chairman of the Joint Committee of Chiefs of Staffs of the Jordan Armed Forces
On July 10, 2008 Chairman of the Joint Committee of Chiefs of Staffs of the Jordan Armed Forces General Khalid J AL-Sarayreh arrived in Minsk on an official visit.
Today after the ceremony of the official meeting negotiations between Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Lieutenant-General Sergei Gurulev and his Jordan counterpart will be held.
The program of the visit includes meeting of Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev with the head of the Jordan delegation.
The delegation of the Jordan Armed Forces will visit the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus, State Military-Industrial Committee and a number of enterprises of domestic industry.
Head of State made promotions to the military rank of Major-General
Under the Decree by President of the Republic of Belarus Colonels Sergei Bobrikov and Mikhail Puzikov were promoted to the rank of Major-General.
Joint peacekeeping exercise
In accordance with the Plan of main activities of international military cooperation for 2008 the Belarusian unit will participate in a joint Ukrainian-Belarusian tactical peacekeeping exercise. Within frameworks of the exercise which is held on July 11 - 18, 2008 at the International Peacekeeping Centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, actions of a joint multinational unit in conducting relevant tasks will be drilled.
Working meeting of experts of ministries of defence of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine
On July 8-10, a working meeting of experts of ministries of defence of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine on evaluation of commitment of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Additional Confidence and Security-Building Measures between the Republic of Belarus and the Ukraine took place in Minsk.
President expresses official thanks to military institution graduates
President Alexander Lukashenko has expressed official thanks to a group of military institution graduates. Among others, the official letters of thanks were given to Colonel Dmitry Kovalev, General Staff of the Armed Forces Faculty graduate of the Military Academy of Belarus; Colonel Vadim Denisenko, graduate of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia; Maksim Baidakov, S.M.Budyonny Military Academy of Telecommunications graduate; and others.
July 8, 2008
Belarusian military inspectors to visit Poland
On July 8-11 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus will inspect two military units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland in accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe. In the course of the inspection correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity will be checked.
July 1, 2008
Delegation of the Vietnamese People's Army is in the Republic of Belarus on a visit
A delegation of the Vietnamese People's Army is in the Republic of Belarus on a visit. Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Chief of the Main Political Directorate of the Vietnamese People's Army Army-General Le Van Zung heads the delegation.
Chief of the delegation met with Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev, and the Vietnamese delegation met with Assistant to Minister of Defence for Ideological Work in the Armed Forces - Chief of the Main Directorate of Ideological Work of the Ministry of Defence Major-General Alexander Gura.
The Vietnamese delegation will participate in solemn events dedicated to Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus.
June 28, 2008
Working meeting of representatives of armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine
In compliance with the Plan of activities of bilateral cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Armed Forces of Ukraine on June 24-26, 2008 a working meeting of representatives of armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine took place. Colonel Igor Matrashilo, Chairman of the Military-Scientific Committee of the Armed Forces headed the Belarusian delegation.
In the course of the visit the Belarusian military men studied order of organization of scientific work in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, exchanged experience of information support of military-scientific researches and realization of military-technical programs and projects in the sphere of military-scientific information.
Besides during the visit draft Regulations on order of organization of information exchange between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine was coordinated, ways of further cooperation in organization of joint researches were intended.
June 23, 2008
An inspection group from the Federal Republic of Germany to visit Belarus
On June 24 - 27, 2008 an inspection group from the Federal Republic of Germany will visit the Republic of Belarus in compliance with the CFE Treaty. In the course of the inspection a military unit (at inspectors' option) which is an object of verification according to the Treaty will be inspected. The inspection will be aimed at check-up of correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity. The inspection group will include eight military inspectors from Germany and one inspector from the Netherlands.
An observation flight over the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany to be conducted
On June 23 - 27, 2008 a representative of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus will take part in an observation flight of the Belarus-Russia Group of States Parties over the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany within frameworks of the Open Skies Treaty. The flight will be aimed at control over military activity on the territory of the observable side.
June 20, 2008
An inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland visited Belarus
On June 16 - 19, 2008 an inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland visited the Republic of Belarus in compliance with the CFE Treaty. In the course of the inspection the 19th separate mechanized brigade (which is an object of verification according to the Treaty) was inspected. Foreign military inspectors confirmed correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity and fulfillment of obligations under the CFE Treaty by the Republic of Belarus. The inspection group included seven military inspectors from the United Kingdom and one inspector from Italy, the Netherlands and Norway.
Belarus conducted an inspection on the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark
On June 17 - 19, 2008 within frameworks of the Vienna Document 1999 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus conducted an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. In the course of the inspection absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999, in the specified area was confirmed.
June 18, 2008
Colonel Oleg Gorbach is appointed Chief of the National Agency for Verification and Inspections - Department of the Ministry of Defence of Belarus.
Colonel Oleg Gorbach is appointed Chief of the National Agency for Verification and Inspections - Department of the Ministry of Defence of Belarus. President of the Republic of Belarus signed the relevant Decree on 17 June.
June 16, 2008
Belarus to conduct an inspection on the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark
On June 17 - 19, 2008 within frameworks of the Vienna Document 1999 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus will conduct an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. The inspection will be aimed at confirmation of absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999, in the specified area.
June 12, 2008
An inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to visit Belarus
On June 16 - 19, 2008 an inspection group from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will visit the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the CFE Treaty. In the course of the inspection a military unit (at inspectors' option) which is an object of verification according to the Treaty will be inspected. The inspection will be aimed at check-up of correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity. The inspection group will include seven military inspectors from the United Kingdom and one inspector from Italy, the Netherlands and Norway.
June 10, 2008
An inspection group of the Kingdom of Spain to visit Belarus
On June 9 - 12, 2008 in accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty) an inspection group of the Kingdom of Spain will visit the Republic of Belarus. In the course of the inspection a military unit (at inspectors' option) which is an object of verification according to the Treaty will be inspected. The inspection will be aimed at confirmation of correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity. The inspection group will include five military inspectors from Spain, one inspector from Canada, the Netherlands, Poland and France.
A visit of an inspection group from the Slovak Republic
On June 10 - 13, 2008 an inspection group of the Slovak Republic will visit the Republic of Belarus within frameworks of the CFE Treaty. In the course of the inspection a military unit (at inspectors' option) which is an object of verification according to the Treaty will be inspected. The inspection will be aimed at confirmation of correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity.
An inspection group of Belarus to conduct a visit on the territory of Germany
On June 10 - 13, 2008 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus will conduct an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with the CFE Treaty. The inspection will be aimed at check-up of the absence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, in the specified area.
June 4, 2008
Sitting of the Coordination Committee of topographic services of CIS armed forces
On June 2-7, 2008 a sitting of the Coordination Committee of topographic services of CIS armed forces takes place in Yerevan (the Republic of Armenia).
A representative of the Armed Forcers of the Republic of Belarus participates in the sitting of the Coordination Committee of topographic services of CIS armed forces and in a working meeting with representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia on cooperation in the sphere of military topography, geodesy, cartography and navigation.
The Coordination Committee of topographic services of CIS armed forces was created by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of Defence on October 30, 1997 (the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan). The Coordination Committee of topographic services of CIS armed forces functions on a temporary basis attached to the staff for coordination of military cooperation of member-countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States according to the Regulation, adopted by the Resolution of the Council of Defence Ministers on May 20, 1999.
April 1, 2008
Lieutenant-General Sergey Gurulev to take part in the 7th "SOFEX 2008" Special Forces Defence Exhibition
On March 31 - April 1, 2008 Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defence Lieutenant-General Sergey Gurulev takes part in the 7th Special Forces Defence Exhibition "SOFEX 2008", which is held in Amman (the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) under King's of Jordan patronage and it is the largest in this region.
During the exhibition Sergey Gurulev will meet with General Khalid J AL - Sarayreh, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Jordan Armed Forces, and with chiefs of military delegations of other states of the region.
An observation flight over the territory of Belarus to be conducted
On March 31 - April 4, 2008 a joint mission of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Latvian Republic will conduct an observation flight over the territory of the Belarus-Russia Group of States Parties within frameworks of the Open Skies Treaty. The observation flight will be conducted by the Swedish observation aircraft OS-100/SÀÀÂ 340Â. The flight will be aimed at control over military activity on the territory of two countries.
The observation mission includes 22 people, 3 of them are from the Latvian Republic.
The Belarusian inspectors visited Latvia and Estonia
On March 24 - 28, 2008 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus conducted inspections of specified areas on the territory of the Latvian Republic and the Estonian Republic within frameworks of the Vienna Document 1999. In the course of the inspections the absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999 in the specified areas, was confirmed.
March 14, 2008
International symposium "Global Terrorism and International Cooperation"
On March 10-11, 2008 an international symposium "Global Terrorism and International Cooperation" organized by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Turkish Republic took place in Ankara (Turkey).
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus for Combat Control Colonel Alexander Royko participated in the symposium.
Participants of the symposium listened to reports of specialists from Turkey, China, the USA, Spain, Egypt, Pakistan, Germany and other countries about modern methods of struggle against terrorist threat.
Within frameworks of the symposium the Belarusian representative met with Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Turkish Republic. In the course of the meeting the sides discussed prospective bilateral cooperation in spheres of mutual interest.
An inspector of the Republic of Belarus visited the Federal Republic of Germany
On March 11-14 an inspection group of the Russian Federation conducted an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany within frameworks of the Vienna Document 1999. One Belarusian inspector was included into the Russian inspection group.
An inspection group of Belarus visited Poland
On March 11-14, 2008 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus conducted an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Poland in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999.
In the course of the inspection the absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999 in the specified area, was confirmed.
The Belarusian inspection group included one inspector of the Russian Federation.
An inspection group of France visited Belarus
On March 10-14, 2008 an inspection group of France conducted an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999 of the Negotiations on Confidence- and Security Building Measures.
The inspection confirmed the absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999, in the specified area (part of Minsk, Brest and Grodno oblasts).
The inspection group included four representatives of France and one representative from Poland.
March 12, 2008
A delegation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of India to arrive in Minsk
In the course of the visit negotiations on development of military cooperation of two countries will be held. Belarus' Minister of Defence Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev and Commander of the Land Forces of Belarus' Armed Forces Alexander Nikitin will meet with representatives of the Indian military delegation. Members of the delegation will visit domestic industrial enterprises.
Chief of Staff of the Army of the Republic of India General Deepak Kapoor heads the delegation of the Armed Forces of India.
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus arrived in Ukraine
On March 12, 2008 Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev arrived in Ukraine on a 2-day visit.
Within frameworks of the visit a meeting of heads of military departments of Belarus and Ukraine and negotiations of delegations will be held. In the course of negotiations development of bilateral military cooperation of two countries will be discussed.
The sides will exchange experience of reforming and development of armed forces of Belarus and Ukraine.
On March 13, 2008 Leonid Maltsev will visit Military Kiev Lyceum named after Ivan Bogun.
March 11, 2008
A delegation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation arrived in Minsk
A representative delegation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation arrived in Minsk. Chief of the Main Operations Directorate - Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Colonel-General Alexander Rukshin heads the delegation.
Within frameworks the visit issues of joint defence planning, functioning of the regional group of forces of Belarus and Russia, coordination of participation of the Russian Armed Forces in activities of combat training of Belarus' Armed Forces will be discussed.
In the course of the visit the Russian delegation will have an opportunity to visit a number of military units of Belarus' Armed Forces.
March 5, 2008
Minister of Defence of Belarus paid a working visit to the People's Republic of China
On March 1 - 4, 2008 Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus paid a working visit to the People's Republic of China.
During the visit Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus met with Head of the China Committee of People's Political Consultative Conference, Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission, a member of the State Council, Minister of Defence of China. In the course of the meetings cooperation issues in the military sphere were discussed.
The visit was widely covered in mass media of China.
March 4, 2008
An inspection group of Belgium to conduct an inspection on the territory of Belarus
On March 3 - 6, 2008 within frameworks of the Vienna Document, 1999 of the Negotiations on Confidence- and Security Building Measures an inspection group of the Kingdom of Belgium will conduct an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. The inspection will be aimed at confirmation of absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999. The inspection group will include two representatives from Belgium and a representative from Hungary and Lithuania.
February 26, 2008
Today PARP experts of NATO Headquarters to arrive in Minsk
On February 26-29, 2008 regular consultations on Belarus' participation in the Partnership for Peace Planning and Review Process (PARP) and on implementation of activities within frameworks of PARP in 2008 will be held in Minsk. Aims of cooperation and aspects of cooperation within frameworks of PARP in 2008 will be discussed.
February 26, 2008
Today PARP experts of NATO Headquarters to arrive in Minsk
On February 26-29, 2008 regular consultations on Belarus' participation in the Partnership for Peace Planning and Review Process (PARP) and on implementation of activities within frameworks of PARP in 2008 will be held in Minsk. Aims of cooperation and aspects of cooperation within frameworks of PARP in 2008 will be discussed.
February 25, 2008
The Belarusian military inspectors to visit the Federal Republic of Germany
Within frameworks of the Vienna Document, 1999 on February 26 - March 1, 2008 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus will conduct an evaluation visit of a unit of Armed Forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. The visit will be aimed at confirmation of information, provided by the United Kingdome to OSCE participating states within frameworks of the Vienna Document, 1999 on personnel, major weapon systems and military equipment.
February 18, 2008
An observation flight of France and the Federal Republic of Germany
On February 18 - 22, 2008 within frameworks of the Open Skies Treaty representatives of France and the Federal Republic of Germany will conduct an observation flight over the territory of the Belarus-Russia Group of States Parties. The flight will be aimed at control over absence of large military activity on the territory of two countries.
February 15, 2008
On February 15, 2008 the 19th anniversary of the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan is celebrated
Within frameworks of the Day of Memory of soldiers-internationalists a solemn meeting took place at the Island of Courage and Grief in Minsk. Soldiers-internationalists, relatives of the soldiers who died in Afghanistan, representatives of state administration bodies, patriotic non-governmental organizations took part in the meeting. Traditionally wreathes were laid to the Monument to Soldiers-Internationalists.
In memory of those days the 10th anniversary regional meeting of soldiers-internationalists will be held on the territory of Kruglyanski district, Mogivev region.
February 11, 2008
A visit to a military unit of the Romanian Armed Forces is finished
On February 9, 2008 an inspection group of the Republic of Belarus finished an evaluation visit to a military unit of the Armed Forces of Romania within frameworks of the Vienna Document, 1999.
In the course of the visit confidence of the information, which Romania had provided to OSCE-countries within frameworks of the Vienna Document, 1999 in reference to personnel, main weapon systems and military equipment, was confirmed.
February 8, 2008
An observation flight of the Canadian mission
On February 4 - 8, 2008 a mission of Canada conducted an observation flight over the territory of the group Belarus-Russia within frameworks of the Open Skies Treaty. The flight was aimed at control over military activity on the territory of two countries.
February 7, 2008
A sitting of the Consultative Council and the Coordination Council of Officer Assemblies
Today a sitting of the Consultative Council and the Coordination Council of officer assemblies of the Armed Forces took place at the Central Officers' Club.
Participants of the sitting discussed plans of development of activity of officer assemblies, of the Consultative Council and the Coordination Council.
The Consultative Council was created to study and consolidate officer personnel's opinion on Armed Forces' development. Besides the Council's tasks include further development of troops' activity, combat training, strengthening discipline and military law and order, organization of ideological work and informational activity, social protection of service members, civil personnel and their families, and other aspects of activity in military sphere.
January 11, 2008
Sitting of the collegium of the Ministry of Defence
On January 11, a regular sitting of the collegium of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus took place.
In the course of the sitting issues of training and completing military units with officers were discussed.
December 21, 2007
The official visit of Minister of Defence of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev to Azerbaijan is finished
On December 17-20 Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev paid an official visit to Azerbaijan.
During the visit Head of the Belarusian military department met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime-Minister Artur Rasizade, Minister of Defence Colonel-General Safar Abiyev and Chairman of Parliament (Milli Majlis) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev visited the Military Academy and Training and Educational Centre of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan.
In the course of the meeting chiefs of defence ministries of Belarus and Azerbaijan signed a Plan of bilateral cooperation for 2008.
December 18, 2007
Head of State made promotions to the military rank of major-general
Under the Decree by President of the Republic of Belarus Colonel Alexander Anisimov and Colonel Vladimir Bashtanenko were promoted to the rank of Major-General.
Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus
December 17, 2007
Ministers of Defence of Belarus and Ukraine met in Kiev
On December 17, 2007 a meeting of Ministers of Defence of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine took place in Kiev (Ukraine). During the meeting development of bilateral cooperation in the military sphere was discussed. In the course of meeting the action plan of bilateral cooperation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2008 and Agreement between Government of the Republic of Belarus and Council of Ministers of Ukraine in the sphere of safety of state aircrafts' flights were signed.
December 14, 2007
Meeting of defence ministers of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation
On December 14, 2007 a meeting of Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev and Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Anatoly Serdyukov took place.
In the course of the meeting the sides discussed current state and prospective development of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation of two countries.
December 7, 2007
An inspection group of the USA visited the Republic of Belarus
In accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe an inspection group of the United States of America visited the Republic of Belarus. In the course of the inspection the 120th separated mechanized brigade which is an object of verification according to the Treaty was inspected. Inspectors confirmed correspondence of armaments and military equipment, which are limited by the Treaty, to the declared quantity. The inspection group included military inspectors from the USA and an inspector from Denmark and Canada.
The visit of the Belarusian military inspectors to the Latvian Republic is finished
On December 6, within frameworks of the Regional Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Latvia on Additional to the Vienna Document, 1999 Confidence and Security-Building Measures a group of the Belarusian inspectors conducted an evaluation visit to a military unit of the Armed Forces of the Latvian Republic. The visit was aimed at evaluation of military information, which the Latvian Republic had provided to OSCE countries-participants in reference to personnel, main weapon systems and military equipment.
December 5, 2007
Minister of Defence of Belarus met with the Vietnamese delegation
Today Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev met with Chairman of the Defense and Security Commission of National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Le Quang Binh.
In the course of the meeting military cooperation of two countries was discussed. Le Quang Binh admitted that the experience of the Belarusian Armed Forces' development can be used for strengthening of defence capacity of the Vietnamese Republic.
December 3, 2007
Today representatives of the Armed Forces of Lithuania to arrive in Minsk
On December 3-5, a delegation of young employees of the Ministry of National Defence and junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Lithuanian Republic will pay a reconnaissance visit to the Republic of Belarus.
The programme of the visit includes a number of briefings on construction of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, international military cooperation, priorities of Belarus' foreign policy and activity in the sphere of international and regional security.
Representatives of Lithuania will visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Military Academy, and the Belarusian peace-keeping company.
Last year Lithuania organized a similar visit for junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
November 21, 2007
On November 10 - 17, 2007 the World Wu-shu Championship took place in Beijing (China)
A member of the National Team of the Republic of Belarus army sportsman lieutenant Sergei Ivanov won a bronze medal in a weight category 60 kg, a sportsman from Korea won a silver medal and a representative of the People's Republic of China won gold.
1400 sportsmen from 88 countries participated in the competitions. The next world championship will take place in Toronto (Canada).
November 20, 2007
A delegation of the Federative Ministry of Defence of the Federative Republic of Germany arrived in Minsk
Representatives of the Armed Forces of the Federative Republic of Germany take part in a working meeting on bilateral cooperation in the sphere of radiological, chemical and biological defence and ecological security.
Representatives of the German side will exchange with the Belarusian collegues information on structure, missions and prospective development of NBC defence troops and experience in the sphere of ecological security and environmental protection in armed forces.
Within frameworks of the visit representatives of the military department of Germany were presented radiometric equipment produced in Belarus.
November 19, 2007
Representatives of the Joint Services Command and Staff College of the United Kingdome visit Belarus
On November 18, 2007 representatives of the Joint Services Command and Staff College of the United Kingdome started a return visit to the Republic of Belarus. In the course of the visit prospective bilateral cooperation in the sphere of military education will be discussed.
Representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces visited the British military-educational establishment in March, 2007.
November 12, 2007
Representatives of "Ramstein" Command arrived in Belarus On November 11, 2007 representatives of NATO Allied Air Component Command Headquarters "Ramstein" arrived in the Republic of Belarus on a visit to discuss with their colleagues issues, concerned with Partnership's aims in the sphere of Air Force.
Briefings on Partnership's aims for Air Force and Air Defence of the Republic of Belarus within framework of Planning and Review Programme (PARP) are organized. Participants of the event are getting familiarized with some aspects of strategy of NATO "Partnership for Peace" Programme, objectives of NATO Allied Air Component Command Headquarters "Ramstein", the doctrine and procedures of NATO. In the course of the event issues of military survivability and self-defence of aircrafts, navigation and radio communication are discussed. Representatives of Allied Air Component Command Headquarters "Ramstein" were shown for familiarization a transport aircraft Il-76 (the 50th combined aviation base of the Belarusian Air Force) earmarked for participation in PARP.
November 9, 2007
NATO conference took place On November 7, 2007 a conference of chiefs of NATO logistic support services with participation of countries-partners took place at NATO Headquarters (Brussels, the Kingdome of Belgium). In the course of the conference participants discussed logistics of peace-keeping operations, NATO programmes and initiatives with countries-partners in the sphere of logistics.
In accordance with the Individual Partnership Programme of the Republic of Belarus and NATO for 2006-2007 a representative of the Belarusian Armed Forces took part in the conference.
November 8, 2007
On November 8, 2007 an Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Defence of France was signed The signing of the document is aimed at establishment of close working contacts between military departments of two countries and at strengthening of bilateral military cooperation to provide European and international security.
In accordance with the Agreement main trends of the cooperation will be:
construction and strengthening of the European security:
construction and reformation of armed forces;
military science;
logistic support of armed forces;
military education and training of military personnel;
military topography, cartography and geodesy;
military jurisprudence and social security of military personnel;
military healthcare and rehabilitation of military personnel and their families.
October 23, 2007
On October 23, 2007 an annual Strategic Military Partner Conference to take place in Tromso (the Kingdome of Norway)
On October 23, 2007 within framework of the Individual Partnership Program of the Republic of Belarus and NATO for 2006 - 2007 Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Lieutenant-General Sergei Gurulev will participate in the annual Strategic Military Partner Conference, which will be held in Tromso (the Kingdome of Norway).
In the course of the conference military cooperation within frameworks of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and NATO Program "Partnership for Peace" will be considered.
October 19, 2007
The Belarusian military sportsmen are winning medals at the 4th CISM Military World Games Today at the 4th CISM Military World Games in Hyderabad (India) military sportsman Ensign Maksim Kanafin won a gold medal in the Military Pentathlon Men Individual.
The Belarusian team including Major Andrei Odinokov, Major Alexander Saplin, Senior Lieutenant Mikhail Tovkach, Major Andrei Kudin, Senior Lieutenant Andrei Markevich and Ensign Maksim Kanafin won silver in the Military Pentathlon Team Match.
The Belarusian woman's team including Lieutenant Zhanna Shepelevich, ensign Natalia Yurkovets and military sportswoman Larisa Usacheva won silver in the 25m Women Military Rapid Fire Pistol.
Private Pavel Gribajlov won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling (66kg).
The woman's parachuting team won a bronze medal.
Today the team of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus has 14 medals - one gold, six silver and seven bronze medals.
The inspection group of the Republic of Belarus evaluated confidence of the information, provided by the Lithuanian Republic On October 15-18, 2007 within frameworks of the Regional Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Lithuanian Republic on Additional Confidence and Security-Building Measures a group of the Belarusian military inspectors conducted an evaluation visit of a military unit on the territory of the Lithuanian Republic.
The inspection group of the Republic of Belarus evaluated the confidence of the information, which had been provided to countries-participants of the Vienna Document, 1999 in reference to personnel, main weapon systems and military equipment.
A group of the Latvian military inspectors finished an evaluation visit to the 120th separated mechanized brigade
On October 15-17, 2007 a group of the Latvian military inspectors finished an evaluation visit to the 120th separated mechanized brigade within frameworks of the regional statement on additional confidence and security measures between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Latvia.
The inspection of the Federative Republic of Germany is finished On October 19, 2007 an evaluation visit of the 231st composite artillery brigade by an inspection group of the Federative Republic of Germany within frameworks of the Vienna Document, 1999 is finished. The inspection group included inspectors from the Federative Republic of Germany, representatives of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Czech Republic.
All members of the inspection group evaluated confidence of the information, which had been provided to countries-participants of the Vienna Document, 1999 by the Republic of Belarus in reference to personnel, main weapon systems and military equipment.
October 8, 2007
Representatives of the Armed Forces to take part in the exercise "Cooperative Longbow-2007" In the framework of the Partnership for Peace Programme a multinational exercise "Cooperative Longbow-2007" is taking place in Albania (Tirana) on October, 7-30, 2007 under the command of NATO Allied Land Component Command Headquarters "Heidelberg".
In accordance with the Individual Partnership Programme of the Republic of Belarus and NATO 2006-2007, adopted by State Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus on January 4, 2006, three officers from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus are participating in the exercise at the staff of the multinational brigade.
October 5, 2007
A group of the Belarusian inspectors is conducting an inspection on the territory of the Republic of Poland On October 1-6, 2007 within frameworks of the Agreement on additional confidence and security measures to the Vienna Document, 1999 between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Poland a group of the Belarusian inspectors is conducting an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Poland. The inspection is aimed at confirmation of absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification within frameworks of the bilateral Agreement.
Sergey Martynov won the World Shooting Cup The Belarusian military sportsman Lieutenant-Colonel Sergei Martynov became a winner of the World Shooting Cup in 500 meters small-bore rifle prone shooting.
The competitions took place on October 5, 2007 in Bangkok (Thailand). Holder of two silver Olympic medals Sergey Martynov scored 599 points.
October 3, 2007
An opening ceremony of a new barrack for the Guard of Honour Company to take place Today an opening ceremony of a new barrack of the Guard of Honour Company will be held. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - the First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Lieutenant-General Sergey Gurulev will take part on the ceremony.
The new barrack meets all the modern requirements. Favorable conditions for rest of the company personnel have been created in rooms, decoration meets all the requirements for comfort and coziness.
Autonomous boiler, energy-saving windows and doors, shower cabins, automatic washing machines and satellite TV are installed in the barrack.
October 2, 2007
On October 3, 2007 a farewell ceremony of the delegation of Belarus' Armed Forces to the 4th CISM Military World Games in Hyderabad to take place On October 3, 2007 a farewell ceremony of the delegation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus to the 4th CISM Military World Games in Hyderabad (India) will take place in the Palace of Team Sports of the Sports Committee of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev, Minister of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Grigorov, Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus Gennady Alexeenko, representatives of community of Minsk and veterans of army sports will participate in the ceremony.
