ATOM-ANTI-TERROR 2006 JOINT EXERCISES START IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The representatives of ruling staff
of anti-terrorist subdivisions of CIS countries announced about the
start of the Atom-Anti-terror 2006 joint exercises at the September
27 meeting at the Marriott-Armenia hotel of Yerevan.

A program of organization and holding of operative-searching events
connected with disclosure and extermination of terrorist groups
penetrating into the country’s territory will be worked out during
the exercises. Employees of RA National Security Service special
subdivision will act as terrorists. A joint military operation of
surrounding and extermination of diversion-terrorist group will be
shown on September 28 at RA Defence Ministry and operation of release
of hostages and neutralization of terrorists will be shown in the
territory of Metsamor ANPP.

As Lieutenant-General Gorik Hakobian, Head of RA National Security
Service, mentioned, it is the first time that such large-scale
exercises are held in Armenia. In his words, these exercises are the
logical continuation of the South-Anti-terror, West-Anti-terror,
Azov-Anti-terror and Caspi-Anti-terror exercises held previously
within the framework of CIS.

"Holding of such large-scale exercises cannot be an end in itself and
has concrete tasks: to work out cooperation elements between special
services and their subdivisions when holding joint anti-terrorist
actions," G.Hakobian said. In his words, another peculiarity of the
current exercises is that for the first time military subdivisions
will also take part in them.

The heads of CIS countries’ anti-terrorist structures and special
services in their speeches touched upon issues of providing security
of atomic energy entities.

It is noteworthy that Secretary of Security Council under RA
President, RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian and Chief of RA Police,
Colonel-General Hayk Haroutiunian were also present at the event.

Representatives of the Great Eight countries’, OSCE’s, UN’s, Shanghai
Organization’s anti-terrorist structures together with delegations
of CIS countries’ security bodies and special services took part in
the Atom-Anti-terror 2006 exercises as observers.