Press Releases
Regional Cooperation 2007, Executive Seminar
June 14, 2007
Location: Radisson/SAS hotel, Astana, Kazakhstan
The commander of U.S. Central Command met with met with ministers and civil-military representatives from Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan to discuss regional security cooperation and disaster response at the conclusion of exercise Regional Cooperation 2007 in Kazakhstan today.
“Exercise Regional Cooperation 2007 used a very realistic scenario to challenge the ability of participating states to address the consequences of disaster in this vital region,” said Major General Vern M. Findley II, Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy for U.S. Central Command. “This exercise provided an opportunity for both military and civil authorities to improve relationships and regional crisis coordination that will save lives and restore stability when disasters strike; and that is what is really important,” he added.
Regional Cooperation 07 is a national level disaster response and consequence mitigation exercise that ran for a week in Central Asia. Its purpose was to strengthen relations among participating nations and promote coordination to enhance the ability of responders to prepare, respond and recover from the effects of natural or manmade disaster through the operation of a Regional Cooperation Center in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Additionally, this exercise promoted cooperation across bordering nations in countering narcotics, terrorism, and illegal activities. Regional Cooperation 07 provides an open forum for discussion of relevant regional issues associated with disaster preparedness and multi-national cooperation.
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For more information, contact Lieutenant Colonel Daniel J. W. King at kingdj@centcom.mil or CENTCOM Public Affairs at +1 (813) 827-5895