YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. In accordance to the CSTO member states’ armed forces joint combat readiness 2016 plan, the Armenian Armed Forces and peacekeeping detachment are taking part in the military exercises of CSTO in Belarus.

More than 1,000 troops and 500 units of military equipment will be involved in a joint exercise of the peacekeeping contingents of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states codenamed Unbreakable Brotherhood-2016, which starts in Belarus on Tuesday, TASS reported citing the Belarusian Defense Ministry.

"The main objectives of the exercise are strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between the peacekeeping forces of the CSTO member states, improving practical skills of the commanders and staffs at all levels in preparing a peacekeeping operation and command and control of forces and units during peacekeeping missions," the Defense Ministry said.

In addition, according to the Belarusian Defense Ministry, the CSTO partners will drill interaction "in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the local population in a simulated conflict zone, as well as practice actions to destroy simulated illegal armed groups in their areas of responsibility."

According to the CSTO Secretariat, "for the first time the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces will get the UN Security Council mandate and will act in a crisis region in cooperation with the UN mission." Representatives of the United Nations Secretariat and the International Committee of the Red Cross have been invited to the exercise.

A demonstration of new and upgraded samples of weapons, military and special equipment, the use of which is allowed to the peacekeeping force was held on the eve of the maneuvers at the Obuz-Lesnovsky military range in the Brest region. About 10 organizations of the Belarusian State Military Industrial Committee system and the defense sector of the Belarusian economy presented nearly 100 samples of weapons, military and special equipment, according to the State Military Industrial Committee.

The Unbreakable Brotherhood-2016 maneuvers will be held at the Obuz-Lesnovsky range in the Brest region on August 23-27.