ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 23 2004

Command-and-staff exercises begin in Armenia

YEREVAN, March 23 (Itar-Tass) – Command-and-staff exercises of
Armenia’s Armed Forces are to be held throughout the republic from
March 23 to 27, Colonel Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, the Defence Minister’s
press secretary, has told Itar-Tass.

Shakhsuvaryan said the exercises are held under the supervision of
Colonel-General Mikhail Arutyunyan, chief of the Main Headquarters of
the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defence, under this
year’s programme for the combat training of the army. Technical,
logistical and medical units will be involved in the exercises, he
pointed out.

In accordance with the plan of the exercises, mobilisation reserves
will be called up on the first day for the purpose of personnel
replacement. This is one of matters that will be drilled during the
first phase of the exercises, the Defence Ministry’s press secretary
said.