YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Minister of Defense, Seyran Ohanyan, welcomed the participants in the Collective Security Treaty Organization Collective Rapid Reaction Force’s (CSTO CRRF) “Cooperation 2012” joint and multinational military exercises, which kicked off in Armenia on Saturday morning (PHOTOS).

“I open the military drills with great satisfaction and a sense of responsibility,” the Minister stated during the event’s official opening, and added that the maneuvers are being conducted in compliance with the joint action plan. 

In his words, these drills are the CRRF’s most important development this year and a platform for designing a CRRF interaction.  

In Ohanyan’s words, “[CRRF] is a regional force which is capable of neutralizing potential threats.”  

He also recalled that 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 10th anniversary of CSTO. 

“Our partnership has a rich history. All divisions are ready for the military exercises,” Armenia’s Defense Minister concluded.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the CSTO CRRF “Cooperation 2012” military exercises kicked off in Armenia on Saturday morning. The commander of the joint forces is Major General Kamo Kochunts.

About 2,000 troops from Armenia and other CSTO states are participate in the maneuvers.

During the exercises, which will continue until September 19, the CSTO CRRF units will work out on the use of force and means of collective security in the Caucasus. From September 15 to 17, heads of the exercises will also hold a development and planning of joint operations.

Representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross likewise will take part in the maneuvers.

The military drills are conducted in accordance with a plan of joint operational and combat training activities of the authorities and groups of forces and means of CSTO in 2012.