DUSHANBE, May 5, 2009, Asia-Plus -- There will be no military parade on occasion of the Victory Day in Dushanbe this year, Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.

“On May 9, a meeting of Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev with a group of veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 will be held at the Victory Park and then the minister and veterans will lay wreaths at the Eternal Flame,” Mahmadaliyev said, noting that all sub-units of the ministry are currently holding traditional meetings with war veterans.

According to him, there are two main reasons for not holding the military parade this year: firstly, advanced age and health conditions of the veterans; and secondly, it is not a jubilee date.

He further added that the global financial crisis was not the reason for refusing to hold the military parade this year.  “Holding of military parades does not require additional financial resources,” the spokesman said.