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Russian defence minister calls for common security space with Ukraine

In the course of the meeting, the parties paid special attention to joint military exercises

MOSCOW, March 7 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov called for creating a common security space with Ukraine. Serdyukov said so after talks with his Ukrainian colleague Dmitry Salamatin on Wednesday.

"We have a good potential in the military and military-technological field for it," he noted.

In the course of the meeting, the parties paid special attention to joint military exercises.

The Farvater Mira /Fairway of Peace/ 2012 exercise will involve the Russian Black Sea Fleet units and Ukraine’s Navy. The objective of the drill is to train humanitarian operations.

In September, a Russian motorized infantry company will take part in the Slav Cooperation 2012 exercise in Ukraine.

"For our part, we invited Ukrainian observers to watch exercises in Russia's South Military District," Serdyukov said, "I also offered my colleagues to have Ukraine servicemen participate in a joint brigade or battalion tactical drill."

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