- Title: RUSSIA: RUSSIA AND NATO STAGE JOINT ANTI-TERROR EXERCISES IN KALININGRAD.
- Date: 25th June 2004
- Summary: (W5) KALININGRAD REGION AND BALTIC SEA AREA, RUSSIA (JUNE 23-24, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. GV/PAN: RUSSIAN NAVY PATROL SAILING PAST OIL PLATFORM IN BALTIC SEA 0.11 2. LV/PAN: RUSSIAN JETS FLY LOW OVER SITE OF OIL PLATFORM, DROPPING ANTI-MISSILE FLARES 0.23 3. GV: SMALL SPEED BOAT CARRYING SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS NEAR OIL PLATFORM, GUNFIRE FROM SPE
- Embargoed: 10th July 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KALININGRAD REGION, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Reuters ID: LVA8TNC565DIIPGE5LYGFO51707X
- Story Text: Russia-NATO exercise focuses on dealing with a
terrorist attack on off-shore oil installations.
Russia and NATO have for the first time ever staged
joint anti-terrorism exercises. Code named "Kaliningrad
2004" the manoeuvres deal with a scenario in which a group
of terrorists attack off-shore oil installations, taking
several hostages in the process.
Staged over three days from Wednesday (June 23) to
Friday (June 25), the exercises involved Russian military,
naval units and rescue teams, as well as forces from NATO
countries, including new alliance members Poland and
Lithuania.
Altogether some 100 personnel from Russia and NATO
countries took part in "Kaliningrad 2004."
Russia's Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu was present
throughout the manoeuvres.
"The rescuers around the world are all part of one big
family, and when needed, they help each other. This has
been proved many times - more often than during exercises,"
said Shoigu, standing alongside NATO's Stephan Orosz.
"Terrorism today knows no boundaries; terrorists can
strike on land, sea and air and you have to be prepared, as
consequence managers, to deal with this wherever it should
occur," said Orosz, representing NATO's Department for
Civil Emergency Planning.
The U.S. Under-secretary for Homeland Security Michael
Brown was one of many official observers at the exercises.
Brown said countries around the world can cooperate
more effectively in dealing with disasters and terrorist
attacks by being aware of each others' capabilities.
"It is so important at times of emergency management to
know who is on the other side, who is there, what are their
capabilities, what do they bring to the table, to help you
respond to save lives and protect property. We (Russia and
the USA) know each other we know what our capabilities are,
and that goes a long way to helping people in times of
disaster," said Brown.
Russian and NATO officials are expected to evaluate the
results of the exercises, with a view to further
cooperation in the future.
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