KYIV. Feb 24 (Interfax-AVN) - The Ukrainian Parliament's refusal to allow foreign servicemen to join military exercises in the territory of Ukraine has negatively impacted the country's image and training programs of its armed forces, the Defense Ministry said.
The absence of appropriate laws prevented Ukrainian servicemen from taking part in a number of important international military maneuvers in 2009, the Defense Ministry said in a book about the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which was presented on Tuesday.
"It has damaged Ukraine's image in the international arena and has negatively influenced the results of troops' training," the ministry said.
Multinational military exercises remain some of the most effective forms of servicemen's training, and the importance of such maneuvers for the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been growing, it said.
Ukrainian servicemen were supposed to participate in 23 multinational military maneuvers in 2009, including 11 in Ukrainian territory and 12 abroad.
However, because of parliament's refusal to allow foreign servicemen to participate in military exercises held in Ukraine's territory, Ukrainian soldiers were able to take part only in 15 such exercises.
This year, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry plans to contribute its servicemen to 21 international military exercises, including nine in Ukraine and 12 in other countries.
The Defense Ministry and the Justice Ministry have already launched consultations on this document, which will have to be approved by the president, the National Security and Defense Council and parliament.