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No discussion of Russian air base in Belarus planned for meeting of PMs

GRODNO, September 7. /TASS/. The issue of Russia’s air base deployment in Belarus is not on the agenda of planned on September 8 meeting between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his Belarusian counterpart Andrey Kobyakov, a senior official told TASS on Monday.

"This theme [air base deployment] is not planned to be discussed," Belarusian first deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Mikhnevich said. "The economy and our bilateral cooperation are on the agenda."

On September 2, Russia’s government adopted the project on the Russian air base stationing at the Belarusian territory.

"Signing the agreement will facilitate the organization of joint protection of the Union State external border in the airspace and the establishment of joint regional air defense system of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus," the document said. "The agreement is expected to consolidate long-term Russian military presence in the region."