Public Television of Armenia
Aug 13 2009

Peacekeepers, special-purpose forces on joint drills in Armenia

[Presenter over video of the drills] Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan
visited the Marshal Baghramyan training ground on 12 August to watch
the tactical drills of peacekeeper and special-purpose forces. Such
drills are being held for the first time in the Armenian armed forces
– a special-purpose detachment, aircraft and a brigade of peacekeepers
are being involved. The drills lasted for three days. [According to
the drills’ scenario,] There are hostilities between two countries, a
buffer zone is being created between them and peacekeepers are being
deployed there. According to the scenario of the drills, peacekeepers
should be able to separate and pacify the conflicting sides. Armenian
peacekeepers note that these drills are ordinary for them as
peacekeepers perform similar task, for instance, in Kosovo.

[Col Artur Simonyan, the commander of the brigade of peacekeepers,
speaking to journalists] The drills were held to train and also
examine our capabilities, abilities, and knowledge. In Kosovo, for
example, at this moment we have 70 peacekeepers who are engaged in
maintaining a buffer zone between Serbs and Albanians.
From: Baghdasarian