You're reading: Lukashenko: Belarus, Russia to form single regional air defense system

MINSK - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday confirmed in Decree 65 an agreement between Belarus and Russia to jointly protect the Union State's external air border and to form a single regional air defense system, the Belarusian presidential press service told Interfax.

The agreement was signed by the Russian and Belarusian defense ministers on Feb. 3, 2009, on behalf of the two presidents.

"It creates military-political conditions for enhancing the reliability of protecting the Union State’s western borders," the press service said.

Implementation will help equip the joint regional air defense forces with weapons and military hardware on the basis of a single military-technical policy; work out common requirements for combat readiness and troop skills, and organize their operational and combat training, according to the press service.

"When threats emerge and in time of war, part of the joint regional air defense system will be used as a component of Belarus and Russia’s regional military grouping. The status of the joint regional air defense force, attached to the agreement, defines the system’s main tasks, organizational principles and employment procedures," the press service said.

The post of commander of the joint regional air defense system will be filled after the agreement takes effect.