10 June 2004 10:54
Russian government to urge MPs to ratify military accord with Belarus
Moscow, 10 June: The Russian Federation's government is proposing that State Duma deputies should ratify the
Russian agreement with Belarus "On joint protection of the rear by the regional group of troops" of both
countries' armed forces.
As reported by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov today at a meeting of the Russian government, Belarus
"ratified" this agreement "long ago".
In the event of ratification, the agreement will legalize actions "by the Russian-Belarusian regional grouping
located on the territory of a number of Russia's western regions and the whole of Belarus both at times of war and
peace", the minister explained.
Agreements have been worked out to be in effect for five years with the possibility of automatic extension for
subsequent five-year periods. The documents go into force "the day that ratification papers are
exchanged".
The minister also reported that the implementation of the agreement "will not entail additional expenditure from
the Russian federal budget since it is being financed from the budget of the union state".
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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