OREANDA-NEWS. On September 30, 2008 A number of cooperation documents were signed following the meeting of Ukraine's State Border Service Chair Mykola Lytvyn, and First Deputy Director, Chief of the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation Vladimir Pronichev in Saint Petersburg, the liaison department of the Ukrainian border service reported.

The participants in the meeting pointed out increase in the passenger transport flow across the Ukraine - Russia state border in 2008. The parties noted reciprocal striving for facilitation of border crossing procedures for both countries' citizens, and cooperation in preventing illegal practices at checkpoints.

The border service heads informed one another about the main results of their departments' operation service activity in 2008, noting that the principal threats on the common border are illegal migration and contraband.

They also outlined the basic directions of cooperation development: exchange of know-how in organization of service and personnel training; coordination of efforts and holding of joint measures; interaction of task force bodies, the bodies of border control, border service, sea and cost guards at all levels.

Following the meeting, the administrations of the State Border Service of Ukraine and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation signed a protocol on the procedure for exchange of information about the situation on the state border of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the protocol on the activity of border commissioners, and the plan for the development of cooperation in 2009.