NATO and partner commanders hold joint exercise

A Command Post exercise focusing on crisis response, CAS 2005 aims to enhance military interoperability for Peace Support Operations and Humanitarian Assistance Operations. Commanders and staffs will form a multinational brigade headquarters to be trained in the procedures required to conduct operations at that level.

Participating NATO nations are Bulgaria, Canada, Lithuania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and the United States of America. Partner nations participating in the exercise are Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ª.

In addition, two Mediterranean Dialogue nations, Israel and Jordan will participate, while observers will be provided by The United Arab Emirates, as part of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, and by Russia.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Ministry of Interior will also participate.

CAS 2005 is scheduled by Admiral G.H. Ulrich III, Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples. The officer conducting the exercise is Lieutenant General Iñigo Pérez Navarro, Commander Allied Land Component Command Madrid. Allied Air Component Command Izmir, Allied Land Component Command Heidelberg, and the South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) will act as supporting commands during the exercise.

NOTE FOR THE EDITORS:

A Press Information Center (PIC) will be operational in General Mihailo Apostolski Military Academy , Skopje from 14 Nov 2005 . Questions prior to the establishment of the PIC should be addressed to

CC-Land Madrid Public Information Office.
Tel. + 34 91 512 6398.
Fax. + 34 91 512 64 69.
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ª Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.