DUSHANBE, August 4, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan will not participate in an annual international peacekeeping exercise, dubbed “Steppe Eagle,” in Kazakhstan this year, Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon.
According to him, an operational group of the Ministry of Defense was supposed to join Kazakh, Kyrgyz, US, British, and Lithuanian servicemen for the ninth annual “Steppe Eagle” peacekeeping exercise. “But since soldiers and officers of the Tajik national army will be involved in celebrations dedicated to mark the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence we will not be able to send the operational group to Kazakhstan,” the spokesman stressed.
He added that Tajikistan is sure to participate in the Steppe Eagle exercise next year.
The purpose of the exercise that is scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan this month is reportedly to rehearse coordination and interaction in carrying out demining operations and peacekeeping missions as well as in discovering and neutralizing illegal armed gangs.
In the meantime, according to information posted on Kazakh Defense Ministry’s website, the first preparatory phase of the special tactical peacekeeping exercise “Steppe Eagle – 2011”, which will open on August 8, began at the “Iliskiy” training center on August 1.
Launched in 2003, the annual “Steppe Eagle” program reportedly aims to promote coordination between Kazakh troops and NATO peacekeepers in carrying out peacekeeping missions as well as to raise practical skills of commanders on management of subunits and organize interaction between them in carrying out peacekeeping missions.
