MOSCOW. Feb 10 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia and NATO will hold joint missile defense exercises in 2004 and 2005, Deputy Chief of Staff Colonel General Yury Baluyevsky told a Tuesday news conference.
"Joint exercises in missile defense with NATO will be held in a NATO country in 2004, and in Russia in 2005," he said.
Defense against tactical and not strategic missiles will be rehearsed, because third world countries do not possess strategic missiles, he said.
"Russia and NATO are now working on the compatibility of missile and air defense systems. We are telling our colleagues from NATO, the United States in particular, that it is necessary to develop the necessary legal groundwork for cooperation in this sphere. Cooperation should be mutually beneficial and meet national interests," he said.
Baluyevsky is convinced that Russia will support the idea of joint projects in missile defense with NATO countries.
"We favor the development of a joint product in missile defense. But this is a question of time. There are technological and legal obstacles to such cooperation," he said.