US Central Command awarded the Kazakhstani peace keepers

Astana, 15 January 2009, Khabar - Commander of the US Central Command, General David Petraeus has handed awards to the Kazakhstani military men, who served in Kazbrig brigade and carried out peacekeeping mission in coalition forces in Iraq. During 5 years of service in Iraq, the Kazakhstani peacekeepers annihilated over 4 million mines, trained 572 cadets of Military Academy of Iraq to be sappers and our military doctors being the members of “Delta” group, cured over 5 000 Iraqi and coalition servicemen. General David Petraeus has awarded Yerlan Talasbayev with a medal of US Pentagon “For special merits”, Talasbayev was chief national representative of Armed Forces of Kazakhstan in headquarters of US Central Command and 24 Kazakhstani peacekeepers have received memorable signs of commander US Central Command.

David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command:
- During the service I was impressed with professionalism of Kazakhstani military men. It was a great honor for me to serve together with Kazakhstanis. I also want to congratulate the President and people of Kazakhstan with achievements. I am impressed with Kazakhstan’s achievements reached over the past 17 years of independence. It is seen in Astana.