MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax-AVN) - An international union of paratroopers was formed in Moscow on Saturday.
Airborne and commando veterans from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria attended the founding conference.
"Our international union will act on principles of democracy, comradeship-in-arms, friendship and respect for international and national laws. We reject any forms of extremism and terrorism," Chairman of the Russian Paratrooper Union Col. Gen. Vladislav Achalov told Interfax-AVN on Saturday.
The new union is a non-governmental non-profit organization of airborne and commando veterans, he said.
It aims to strengthen friendship and mutual assistance between veterans' organizations, to elaborate common principles and standards of veterans' social security and medical support, and to commemorate the dead.
"We do not rule out the participation of our members in peacekeeping operations - they may take part in negotiations and escort humanitarian cargos," Achalov said.
Former commander of the 103rd airborne division, Hero of the Soviet Union Lt. Gen. Albert Slyusar was elected as the union chairman. The division was engaged in combat in Afghanistan.