CSTO WILL DEFEND PIPELINE
by: Igor Plugatarev
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 16, 2006, p. 8
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 19, 2006 Monday
NEW WEAPONS WILL BE TESTED DURING SHIELD OF THE UNION-2006; Presidents
Vladimir Putin (Russia), Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus), Nursultan
Nazarbayev (Kazakhstan), Robert Kocharyan (Armenia), Imomali Rakhmonov
(Tajikistan) and Kurmanbek Bakiyev (Kyrgyzstan) will observe the
Shield of the Union-2006 exercise.
The Shield of the Union-2006 exercise will begin in Belarus on
June 17 within the framework of the Collective security treaty
organization. The leaders of six member nations of the Organization
will observe the final phase of the exercise in a week. Presidents
Vladimir Putin (Russia), Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus), Nursultan
Nazarbayev (Kazakhstan), Robert Kocharyan (Armenia), Imomali Rakhmonov
(Tajikistan) and Kurmanbek Bakiyev (Kyrgyzstan) will arrive in Belarus.
Shield of the Union-2006 can be compared with Peace Mission-2005
(Russia-China) regarding the number of servicemen and military hardware
(8,800 servicemen, including 1,800 from Russia). Hundreds of armored
vehicles, artillery complexes, warplanes, helicopters and the Tu-1600
and Tu-95 strategic bombers will be involved.
General of the Army Vladimir Mikhailov, Russian Commander of the Air
Force, said that Shield of the Union-2006 will involve the system of
speechless data transmission system to pilots. Two Mi-28N helicopters
will be involved in the exercise. Sources say that Belarus seeks to
buy new helicopters, and considers the Mi-28N as a candidate.
The scenario of the exercise is based on a military threat to a
member of the Organization and military aid from other members of
organization. Russian and Belarusian ground, anti-aircraft and air
units will cooperate during the exercise. In addition, Russia and
Belarus will work on the creation of the joint anti-aircraft system.
Sources in the Belarusian Defense Ministry state that Shield of the
Union-2006 exercise is also aimed at solving problems of economic
interests of the Russian-Belarusian Union. Russian and Belarusian
units will ensure the security of the most important communications
because oil and gas pipelines cross Belarus. The Collective security
treaty organization focuses on the security of all strategic pipelines
located in member-nations of the organization.