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Unofficial Translation
TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS BRIEFING
BY V. O. RAKHMANIN
Director of the Information and Press Department Of the RF Ministry of Foreign AffairsPress Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia,
October 20, 1999
V. O. RAKHMANIN
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In connection with the coming into force of the 1997 Agreement on mutual force reductions in the area of the border between Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tajikistan and China, the Russian and Chinese sides carried out the first trial inspection of some ground troops, air force and border service facilities in the Primorye Territory on October 11-16.
Taking part in the inspection from the Russian side were representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Federal Border Service as well as the Siberian and Far Eastern Military Districts. The Chinese delegation included members of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and officers of the Beijing, Shenyang, and Qingjiang Military Districts.
The main aim of the trial inspection is to practice the methods of interaction in the course of the regular inspections of the personnel and weapons within 100- kilometer bands on both sides of the border, both its eastern and western sections, as well as the training of personnel which are due to begin next year in accordance with the above-mentioned Agreement.
It has been agreed that a trial inspection on the territory of the PRC will be held early next year.
A number of concrete issues have been identified for improving the forms of work which will be considered in November this year in Beijing by the first session of the Joint Control Group of the five states created under the 1997 Agreement.
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