CIS air defense drills kick off in RussiaAugust 14, 2013 - 22:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Some 20 units from a joint air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a bloc of former Soviet republics in Eurasia, have begun a large-scale exercise in Russia’s Volga region, a Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman said Wednesday, Aug 14, according to RIA Novosti. During the first stage of the Combat Commonwealth 2013 air defense exercise, the units from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will be redeployed to the Ashuluk firing range near the Caspian Sea where the active phase of the drills will take place, according to Col. Alexey Zolotukhin. The three-stage exercise, which involves over 500 personnel and some 100 combat vehicles, will continue until September 12, Zolotukhin said. Conducted annually, Combat Commonwealth exercises are part of efforts to build a joint air defense shield for the CIS. An integrated air defense network was set up by 10 CIS member countries on February 10, 1995. The main purpose of the network is to ensure the protection of the member countries' airspace, as well as early warning of missile attacks and coordination of joint efforts to neutralize potential air threats. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Aliyev: No peace treaty unless Armenia changes constitution Azerbaijan will not sign a peace treaty with Armenia unless the latter changes its constitution, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. Seven injured in massive gas station explosion in Armenia The Investigative Committee of Armenia has unveiled details about a massive explosion at a gas station on the Yerevan-Sevan highway. Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. |