Several CRRF CSTO military exercises to take place next year

In 2010 different agencies are to hold separate exercises in the framework of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force of the Collective Security Treat Organisation.

It has been stated in Yerevan by the Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolai Bordyuzha, RIA Novosti informs.

“Next year we plan to hold drills according to elements, that is, drills of military component of the CRRF are to be held in Russia,” Bordyuzha said. “Next year exercises of each agency separately are to be held: military component of the CRRF in Russia, and besides, exercises of counterterrorist units of security organs units, emergency ministry and internal ministry units are expected”.

According to information of the Secretary General of the CRRF, in 2011 the organisation plans complex exercises with the use of all these components. However it was hard to say for Bordyuzha where these exercises would be held.

The first CRRF exercise was held in October 2009 in Kazakhstan. Alyaksandr Lukashenka didn’t attend it, as well as the signing of the agreement on this force creation in Moscow, July 14. Then the official reason was milk war between Belarus and Russia. However, Belarus joined this agreement.

Independent experts believe that the CRRF are created to suppress riots amid the crisis in the CSTO member states.

The CTSO members are Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Uzbekistan.