BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/04/2008

Russia-Belarus Accent Defense

Minsk, Apr 30 (Prensa Latina) Russian Defense Minister Anatoli Serdiukov highlighted the Russia-Belarus joint defense potential on Wednesday, declaring it a key factor to counteract any aggression or threat to either country's security.

Serdiukov spoke at a two-day ministerial meeting in Minsk and called to unify defense resources to reverse common threats.

The NATO extension, the planned sites of the US anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, intensification of the tension in the Middle East and other conflicts urge close military coordination, he said.

Serdiukov assessed the dynamic cooperation between Moscow and Minsk in the defense sphere as excellent and successful.

Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev said the decisions in defense policy and in strengthening military relations create a solid base for long-term, mutually advantageous cooperation.

He also highlighted both bilateral relations and those within the Collective Security Organization Treaty, composed of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

After welcoming the visiting minister, President Alexander Lukashenko asserted that Moscow does not have a more reliable partner in the West than Belarus and that joint creation of a regional troop speaks for itself and proves united positions.

We will react together, with common positions toward the challenges and threats that surround us, said Lukashenko.

The head of State asserted there were never issues between the Russian army and that of his country.

Both ministries signed an inter-government agreement for shared technical assistance to the Russia-Belarus regional troop group, also established at the time of the ministerial meeting.

Source:

http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B49DE94DB-54A7-4560-A225-5FB21DC951C0%7D)&language=EN

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