KYIV, 28 April (BelTA) - Military cooperation between Belarus and Ukraine has been fruitful and beneficial for the armed forces of the two countries, Defense Minister of Defense of Belarus Lieutenant-General Yuri Zhadobin said following the meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Ezhel held in Kyiv, BelTA has learnt. As noted by Yuri Zhadobin, plans for cooperation in defense industry between Belarus and Ukraine are steadily implemented each year. This allows the armed forces of the two countries to step up cooperation. This year, for example, the sides are set to 15-17 events more than last year. In Kyiv the sides discussed prospects of cooperation between Belarus and Ukraine in defense industry. The Belarusian side, in particular, was interested in the interaction between the two countries in air defense, development of armaments and military equipment at defense enterprises of Ukraine, Ukraine’s experience in training military personnel in the International Center for Peacemaking and Security, and also organization of training courses at the Center for Simulation of the National Defense University of Ukraine. The Ukrainian side is interested in the experience of reforming the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus. The two ministers also discussed the prospects of developing a joint Ukrainian-Belarusian engineer element for the use for its intended purpose and response to natural and manmade disasters. The sides shared experience in destruction of ammunition, sales of surplus armament and other areas. According to the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Ukraine plans to join the Russian-Belarusian joint exercise in 2011. Besides, this year the Armed Forces of Ukraine are expected to partake in a joint training with air defense and ground forces of the Republic of Belarus. Belarus will host a collective training of the engineer units. The Ukrainian-Belarusian command-staff exercise together with aircraft alert forces of Ukraine and Air Forces of Belarus started on 28 April. The exercise scenario is based on an intruder aircraft intercept. Ukraine will send 150 servicemen and seven jets while Belarus will field ten aircraft for the exercise.

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