Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS 16 September 1997

Voice of America, 9/15/97

By Rebecca Mcmenamin

US paratroopers have kicked off a week of unprecedented military exercises in Central Asia with forces from former Soviet republics and Turkey. VOA's Rebecca Mcmenamin reports from the Pentagon that the peacekeeping maneuvers come amid increasing US interest in an area rich in natural resources.

The exercises got underway with dramatic parachute jumps by US paratroopers and forces from a new Central Asian Battalion made up of troops from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. US army sergeant Thomas Clementson, speaking from the remote Kazakh training site, notes the (parachute) jumps were made after an 18-hour, non-stop flight from the United States.

"Paratroopers from the 82nd airborne division with a contingent of soldiers from the Centrasbat (Central Asian Battalion) left Pope air force base on C-17 globemaster aircraft. They traveled just under eight-thousand miles, halfway across the globe, and dropped paratroopers and heavy equipment."

This is the longest airborne operation of its kind ever conducted by American troops. US officials say the success of the mission proves that American forces can be deployed anywhere in the world from their home bases -- something the Pentagon believes could be critical as more and more foreign bases are closed.

A total of nearly 14-hundred troops are taking part in the peacekeeping exercises, including forces from Russia, Turkey, Latvia and Georgia. But it was the Central Asian Battalion that organized the maneuvers. Sergeant Clementson says the three former Soviet republics want to demonstrate their independence and commitment to world security.

"I think everyone here, no matter what country you're talking about, is very excited about the exercises. Centrasbat wants to be a viable piece of the international pie."

US diplomats say the joint participation of the US and Russian troops reflects their common interest in stability in Central Asia. The region sits on Russia's southern flank, is rich in oil, gas and other natural resources and shares borders wtih such potential hotspots as China and Afghanistan.