BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/11/2006

Russia, Belarus to sign agreement on joint air defence

POSYOLOK ZARYA (Moscow region), November 15 (Itar-Tass) -Russia and Belarus could sign an agreement on the formation of the Joint Regional Air Defence System, Russian Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov said.

"It is expected that the agreement on the creation of the Joint Regional Air Defence System of Russia and Belarus will be approved by the Russian government's head on Thursday. Then it will be sent for approval to the Kremlin. The signing of the agreement can take place on November 23 in Brest, where the CIS Council of Defence Ministers will hold a meeting," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Mikhailov was asked about measures of the Russian air defence system in connection with the delivery of four American jets F-16 to Poland, of a total 48 it plans to buy.

He said that the "Air Force is ready to adequately react to this situation".

"Let those NATO planes land where they want. We are creating the regional system, signing the agreement with Belarus for this," he said.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=10984523&PageNum=0

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