MOSCOW, December 28 (AVN) - Russian Airborne Commander Georgy Shpak and a group of lawmakers have completed their visit to the Balkans, the Military News Agency learned on Thursday.
During the visit Shpak was given a detailed account of the military and political situation in the region and peculiarities of the peacekeeping missions carried out by Russian military contingents both in Kosovo and Bosnia.
"Our Balkan peacekeepers, most of whom are paratroopers, are an example of carrying out the mission. However Russia fails to appreciate their efforts for their hard currency salaries have not been paid for four months. I will report it to the defence minister," Shpak told the Agency.
In the course of the visit he met with the command of the Russian airborne brigade within SFOR, leadership of the Russian Embassy in Yugoslavia, KFOR Commander Carlo Cabigiosu and Major-General Vladimir Kazantsev, commander of Russian contingent of KFOR.
Shpak also awarded combat medals to a large group of paratroopers.