RUSSIA: SECOND CONTINGENT OF RUSSIAN PARATROOPERS PREPARE TO LEAVE FOR THEIR PEACEKEEPING DUTIES IN KOSOVO
Record ID:
450983
RUSSIA: SECOND CONTINGENT OF RUSSIAN PARATROOPERS PREPARE TO LEAVE FOR THEIR PEACEKEEPING DUTIES IN KOSOVO
- Title: RUSSIA: SECOND CONTINGENT OF RUSSIAN PARATROOPERS PREPARE TO LEAVE FOR THEIR PEACEKEEPING DUTIES IN KOSOVO
- Date: 3rd July 1999
- Summary: IVANOVO, RUSSIA (JULY 03, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV MILITARY EQUIPMENT TRUCK APPROACHES CARGO PLANE 0.12 2. MV PLANE CARGO HATCH OPENS, TRUCK APPROACHES 0.18 3. SV PARATROOPER OFFICER DIRECTING PARATROOPERS TO LOAD TRUCK 0.25 4. SLV/CU/SV PARATROOPERS PUSH TRUCK UP SCALES, INTO PLANE/WHEELS OF TRUCK/ PARATROOPERS PUSHING (3 SHOTS) 0.45 5. WS PLANE/LV/SLV PARATROOPERS LOADING EQUIPMENT (3 SHOTS) 1.03 6. LAS PORTABLE SAUNA/ CU /SV DOORS OPEN TO SHOW SAUNA HEATER (3 SHOTS) 1.24 7. SV PARATROOPERS SITTING BY PLANE 1.32 8. SV PARATROOPERS' HELMETS AND FLAK JACKETS LINED UP ALONG RUNWAY AS PLANE IS LOADED 1.41 MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 03, 1999) (REUTERS ACCESS ALL) 9. MV HALLWAY OF FEDERATION COUNCIL, UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN WALKS OUT AND GREETS JOURNALISTS (2 SHOTS) 2.01 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN: "Yesterday, we took a formal decision on adjusting the budget and we found financing. There won't be many of our boys serving there, and they will receive just as much as the representatives of other states. They will have adequate conditions and, so you see, they are keen on going there." 2.17 11. MV STEPASHIN WALKS AWAY 2.27 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th July 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: IVANOVO AND MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Reuters ID: LVAA6EO91ETG8W7F4V01ZQAS01Y6
- Story Text: The second contingent of Russian paratroopers bound for
Kosovo made final preparations for their peacekeeping duty on
Saturday as the nation's prime minister vowed to fully fund
their mission.
The 98th Division of Russian Paratroopers based in
Ivanovo, about 300 kilometers northeast of Moscow, loaded
military equipment onto their Il-76 jets on Saturday (July
03), on the eve of their departure to Kosovo.
They will be the second group of Russian paratroopers to
depart for Kosovo, and the first group to arrive.A paratroop
division from Tula left Friday (July 02), taking an extended
train and boat route that will last several weeks.
The Ivanovo paratroopers will be taking communication
equipment, power sources, a mobile hospital, and something
that they describe as their pride and joy--a mobile Russian
sauna.
A small contigent of Russian peacekeepers currently
commands Kosovo's main airport in Pristina.Russian
peacekeepers are to be deployed in the U.S., German and French
zones, but to remain under Russian, not NATO, command.
Service in Kosovo for Russian peacekeepers is a coveted
mission, as soldiers can expect to receive a bonus of up to
1,000 usd.The average monthly salary in Russia's
cash-strapped military is 1,200 roubles, or roughtly 50 usd.
These costs caused much concern among Russian politicians
who are struggling to fund domestic programmes under the
nation's limited and austere budget.
But Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin met with the upper
house of parliament today after winning its backing for
further austerity measures that would allow peacekeeping
funding.
Stepashin pledged that the Russian peacekeepers would be
fully backed by his government.
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