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NATO, Russian commanders to discuss Afghan force training

“The visit will be paid within the mutual exchange of the so-called mobile groups for training of the Russian Defence Ministry and NATO,” the press service said

MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass) —— The NATO delegation headed by Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) General Richard Shirreff will arrive here on Monday under the cooperation plan between the Russian Defence Ministry and NATO, the press service and information department of the Russian Defence Ministry told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

“The visit will be paid within the mutual exchange of the so-called mobile groups for training of the Russian Defence Ministry and NATO,” the press service said.

The NATO delegation includes qualified and authoritative specialists, most of which represent the governing bodies of the Alliance. Members of the NATO mobile group will work at the Military Academy of the Russian General Staff in the Russian capital. The NATO mobile group will teach the professors of the academy NATO military structures, their mission, functions and capabilities. Members of the NATO mobile group will deliver lectures on a broad range of issues, primarily the condition and prospects of Russian-NATO military and military-technical cooperation.

“The NATO officers and generals will share their experience of training and holding large-scale exercises, outline NATO military and political interests and priorities in the Alliance international activities, dwell on taking strategic decisions to involve the NATO forces in some operations in various conflicts and will share the experience of military reforms,” the press service said.

General Shirreff’s visit also envisages the meetings with the top brass of the Russian General Staff. “They are planning to discuss several issues of mutual interest, primarily a probable support to the Afghan security forces, joint efforts in the struggle against piracy off Somalia, the planning and holding of joint military exercises,” the press service said.

The NATO mobile group will round off its visit to Moscow on October 28.

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