Large-scale complex exercises Interaction-2009 taking place in Kazakhstan

Almaty. September 16. Kazakhstan Today - The large-scale complex exercises Interaction-2009, which is the first exercise of the Collective Rapid Response Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CRRF CSTO) began today in various geographical regions in Kazakhstan - in the regional commands of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, the agency reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan.

According to the press service, the command-staff exercises headed by the Commander of the Armies of the Regional Command East of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant General, Nikolay Pospelov, began today in the educational centre Shygys. About 1600 military men and more than 90 units of special equipment are taking part in the exercises.

According to the press service, the purposes of the exercises - improvement of CRRF combat training for joint antiterrorist operations, practical exercises of preparation and acceptance of collective decisions of operative expansion and application of CRRF CSTO military contingents of the Armed Forces of the CSTO member states in the regions of collective security. During the exercises, the CSTO member state will demonstrates their possibilities of operative reaction to terrorism threats and their readiness for joint maintenance of collective security.

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