OREANDA-NEWS. February 4, 2009. Belarus and Russia have signed an agreement on joint defence of the external air space border of the Union State and on setting up the united regional air defence system of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. The document was signed after the session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Moscow on February 3, head of the Belarus President press service Pavel Legky said.

A protocol to the agreement on the joint defence of the Union State external border and the foundation of the Belarus-Russia air defence system is supposed to be worked out and submitted for consideration of the Supreme State Council in the near future.

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev noted at the SSC session on February 3 that the realization of the document will noticeably enhance the defensive capability of Belarus and Russia. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defence Minister of Belarus Sergei Gurulev was quoted as saying earlier that after the agreement is signed, a mechanism to set up the Belarusian-Russian air defence system will be determined. The system should be capable of timely responding to possible tensions and any manifestations of terrorism in the air space.

Russian Air Force Commander, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin told Russian media in an interview that as part of the system Belarus would become the first line of defence of the joint air space of the Union State. The establishment of the united air defence system of Belarus and Russia will raise radar control of the air space at low and ultra low altitudes at the western border of the Union State from the Baltic states to Ukraine.

A protocol on the exchange of ratification instruments to the Belarusian-Russian agreement on equal rights of citizens of the two countries to freedom of travels, choice of stay and residence in the Union State was also signed in Moscow on February 3.