S.Ossetian Defense Chief Speaks of Priorities
In an interview with the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee on July 27, Defense Minister of breakaway South Ossetia Anatoly Barankevich spoke about some of the details of priorities of the unrecognized republic?s armed forces.
He said that skills of the South Ossetian armed forces have been increased ?significantly? since armed clashes with the Georgian troops, which erupted in the conflict zone last August.
?Patterns of the Defense Ministry?s structure have appeared. Each of the [military] unit knows its task. We pay more attention to individual training of a serviceman, as well as to tactics of operating in small groups. Yes, we are fewer in numbers than Georgians, but with the mountainous locations and forest landscapes we will be able to repel [attack] with the forces currently available,? Anatoly Barankevich said.
He also said that defense of a strategic tunnel in Roki Pass, which links South Ossetia with Russia?s North Ossetian Republic is of high priority.
?In case of military confrontation, capturing Roki tunnel will be one of the major goals of the Georgian troops. I want to say that they will never be able to do this. The tunnel is under the reliable defense. We will never give this tunnel to anyone. This is a tunnel which connects us with our brothers in North Ossetia, Russia,? Barankevich said.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
