MINSK. Oct 23 (Interfax) - A bilateral cooperation plan and the concept of the joint strategic exercise of the Russian and Belarusian armed forces West 2025 were approved at a meeting of the board of the Defense Ministries of Belarus and Russia in Minsk, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said.
"A new bilateral cooperation plan, which envisages more than 160 joint events, has been approved today. Board members discussed the prospects of military-technical cooperation and the implementation of the Union State programs. I want to emphasize full mutual understanding, similar positions and the unity of opinions on all issues discussed," Khrenin was quoted as saying by the Belarusian Defense Ministry press service.
"As a result, the prospects of developing Russian-Belarusian military cooperation were clearly outlined. There is no doubt that successful implementation of all planned events will make it possible to continue to successfully strengthen the defense capability of the Union State," Khrenin said.
The main joint training event of the military command bodies and troops next year will be the West 2025 joint exercise, he said.
"The meeting addressed the main approaches to the preparations for and organization of this exercise. As a result, its concept was approved, and there is no doubt that its participants will demonstrate the ability and readiness to achieve joint tasks on a high level next year," Khrenin said.
The board "synchronized watches" on a number of vital issues, the main of them being the functioning of the regional group of forces, organization of joint operational and combat training events, and countering attempts to falsify the WWII history, he said.