Today, on October 5, two multi-national NATO exercises began in the capital of Albania, Tirana. The two exercises are conducted in the framework of the Partnership for Peace program called Cooperative Longbow 07 and Cooperative Lancer 07 (CO LW / CO LR 07), during the period 05 to 30 October 2007.
According to the Defense Ministry’s press-service, 20 Ukrainian military men of the 72nd detached mechanized brigade of the 8th army corps of the Land Forces of Ukraine, headed by captain Vadym Hryzun, commander of a unit’s battery, take part in the exercises.
Approximately 1,100 military personnel from the following nations will participate in the exercise: seven NATO member nations: Canada, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Twelve Partner nations: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 1 , Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Switzerland and Ukraine. One Mediterranean Dialogue country: Israel. Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will send observers.
Based on a fictitious United Nations mandated, NATO-led crisis response operation, the aim of these exercises is to promote interoperability between NATO and Partner forces when conducting a complex and dynamic operation. CO LW / CO LR 07 will provide a good balance between NATO’s training requirements and Partner training needs, incorporating real-world operational experience.
Lieutenant General Roland Kather, Commander, Allied Component Command – Land HQ Heidelberg will command CO LW / CO LR 07.
