Defense ministers of Belarus, Russia discuss avenues of future cooperation

MINSK, 3 June (BelTA) – A bilateral meeting of Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin and Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov took place on the sidelines of a session of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states in Moscow, the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.

During the meeting Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stated that the countries continue actively developing military cooperation and military technology cooperation. “This is especially important in conditions of NATO’s continuous hostile activities near the borders of our states,” the minister emphasized.

The head of the Russian defense agency also recalled that a joint exercise had recently been successfully conducted under the leadership of the presidents of Russia and Belarus. “This is a very important moment for strengthening our interaction and the security of our states,” Andrey Belousov noted.

In turn, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin noted that meetings and communication between the sides are regular. “We use any opportunity to discuss the situation and work out appropriate ways for further action within the framework of the CIS and the CSTO. The situation unfolding around the Union State [of Belarus and Russia] today demands it,” the minister said.

Viktor Khrenin and Andrey Belousov compared notes on the main avenues of bilateral cooperation and discussed possible vectors of further interaction.