MOSCOW, December 20. /ITAR-TASS/. The State Duma, lower house of parliament, has ratified an agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan to create the joint air defense system.

The agreement was signed in Astana on January 30, 2013. The joint air defense system will act based on coordinated actions by air defense troops and forces in time of peace. In time of war troops will act under a common concept and plan.

Joint air defense troops will be led by a commander, which will be appointed by the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan as advised by the defense ministers. A command of the joint air defense system will be headquarters in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The agreement has been signed for the term of five years and can be extended for the next five years automatically.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee for the CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Slutsky said the ratification of the agreement would help strengthen the borders of Russia and Kazakhstan in airspace, coordinate approaches in security and counter-terrorism.

“Kazakhstan is our initial partner over the Eurasian project. The agreement is one of the basic documents in order to create a common defense and security dimension of the future Eurasian union,” the lawmaker said.