ACCORDING TO ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, MODERN CONDITIONS MAKE IT NECESSARY THAT STATES KEEP CONSTANT PREPAREDNESS FOR ACTION

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 23

It is the first time a joint training of such a scale with involvement
of military and state government bodies is held within the framework
of CSTO. RA Defence Minister Seyran Ohanian stated on July 22,
during the opening of the Rubezh-2008 military training being held
in Armenia. According to him, another peculiarity of this training
is along with the contingent of troops of the Caucasian region,
involvement of contingent of armed forces of states of the Central
Asian region. The Minister said that invented states are chosen as
confronting sides.

According to S. Ohanian, the name Rubezh (Line) has not been chosen
by mere chance. "It is the very line, on overpassing which, in case of
an aggression act against any participant-state, according to Article
4 of the Treaty, it is provided proper assistance, including military
one," he said.

The Armenian Defence Minister emphasized that quickly changing
geopolitical conditions make it necessary that the states keep constant
preparedness for action. In his words, along with fall of probability
of large-scale international military conflicts, local wars have become
reality today, which endanger stability in many regions of the world.

Mentioning that in the current year chairmanship in CSTO passes to
Armenia, S. Ohanian expressed confidence that the country leadership
will exert every effort to perfect abilities of CSTO member-states
for timely and efficient joint actions.