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Russian minister points up "strategic" Tajikistan military base

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  • Russian minister points up "strategic" Tajikistan military base

    Russian minister points up "strategic" Tajikistan military base

    ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
    16 Oct 04

    Dushanbe, 16 October: The Russian military base that is due to
    open in Tajikistan on 17 October will have "an important strategic
    significance" for ensuring regional security, Russian Defence Minister
    Sergey Ivanov told an ITAR-TASS correspondent today, following the
    talks with his Tajik counterpart, Sherali Khayrulloyev.

    "The base, which is being set up under the Collective Security
    Treaty Organization CSTO; members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
    Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia , will become a main component of
    the rapid deployment forces in Central Asia," he said.

    The minister said the base would include the 201st Russian Motor-Rifle
    division and the Norak optical-electronic tracking station some 120
    km southeast of Dushanbe and would definitely be reinforced by an
    air squadron as well. Sergey Ivanov also added that the base would
    comprise approximately 5,000 servicemen.

    "Its combat potential will be tested as early as 2005, in the course
    of CSTO military exercises planned in Tajikistan" he said. He added
    that with the formation of the base, there would more opportunities
    to provide "more military as well as military and technical assistance
    to the Tajik armed forces".

    Commenting on the 201st division, the Russian defence minister said:
    "The personnel of the division have accomplished all the targets set."

    "During Tajikistan's tragic period (the five-year civil war of
    1992-97 ), the division demonstrated high military preparedness and
    its ability to accomplish the tasks set," Sergey Ivanov concluded.
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