CIS Fatherland Defenders Year to celebrate both military and civilian personnel

        The year of 2017, which is to be announced as the Fatherland Defenders Year in the CIS, will be dedicated to all who work to strengthen the defense capacity of the Motherland, Deputy Secretary of the CIS Council of Defense Ministers Viktor Chumakov told media. The Fatherland Defenders Year will feature a set of events aimed to increase the prestige of military service and popularize military glory of the Fatherland defenders. “The Year should celebrate veterans, military servicemen who are currently serving in the armed forces, reserve officers and civilian personnel who work to strengthen the defensive capabilities of our Motherland, namely scholars and diplomats,” Viktor Chumakov noted.  The Fatherland Defenders Year is designed to foster patriotic education of younger generation. 
       Viktor Chumakov underlined that the concept of the Fatherland Defenders Year will not duplicate that of the Great Patriotic War Veterans Year, which will be declared in the CIS in 2015. The draft resolution on declaring 2017 as the Fatherland Defenders Year in the CIS will be reviewed at a session of a group of expects at the CIS headquarters. The draft document will be submitted to the CIS Heads of State Council in 2014 or 2015.