MOSCOW. Dec 30 (Interfax-AVN) - RUB127m (USD3.98m) will be allocated in 2003 for setting up the unified Russian Belarussian regional troops group in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty, a competent source in the Russian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"RUB127m is allocated from the budgets of the two countries in 2003 for setting up and providing technical support to the Russian-Belarussian regional troops group, which is twice the sum of this year's allocations. The Russian party provides more than 60 percent of the funds," the source said.
According to him, the funds will be spent on combat training of the units organic of the group and their material and technical support, as well as on the creation of a unified communication system and maintenance of combat readiness of Russian and Belarussian airfields used jointly by the two nations.
"Higher educational establishments of the Russian Defense Ministry are training over 500 officers of the Belarussian Armed Forces for the regional troops group. The officers are trained together with their Russian fellows without restriction of access to classified data," the source said.
Establishment of the Russian-Belarussian regional troops group was authorized in 2000. Its approximate strength is 200,000 to 300,000 servicemen. In addition to military units, the group includes border guard and Interior Ministry units of the two nations. RUB63.5m (USD1.99m) was allocated for setting up the group in 2002.