MONGOLIA, RUSSIA DEFENSE TIES ENHANCE

Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/ Russia vowed to help Mongolia in renovating military armament and equipment of defending against air attack at a recent visit by Mongolia's Defense Minister L.Bold to the Russian Federation. Bold paid a working visit to Moscow at the invitation of his counterpart A.E.Serdyukov.
In the course of the visit, the dignitaries gave a conclusion to the level of the bilateral military-technical cooperation and determined directions of further collaboration. The sides noted that Russia supplied about 60 million USD worth military armament and technique to the Armed Forces of Mongolia according to the intergovernmental agreement, concluded in 2004, on rendering military technical assistance. The Russian side announced that it will render definite assistance to Mongolia in renewing military equipment of defending against air attack.
Presently, over 200 Mongolian military personnel are studying in Russia. It was agreed to increase this number, thus Mongolian army professionals are expected to study there majoring in new professions such as construction engineering, military hospital service and musical school. In addition, Mongolian army officers will study in Academy of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Russia.
Joint military exercises "Darkhan-1" and "Darkhan-2" were organized in Mongolia in the last two years. The two ministers agreed to continue this exercises in 2010 under the name "Darkhan-3". Moreover, other military exercises are to be run in peacekeeping actions.
At the end of the talks, the Defense Minister Bold presented "North Star" order to Army General N.E.Makarov, a First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Russia, for his contribution to the development of defense sector between the two countries. The order is awarded at a degree of the President of Mongolia.
S.Batbayar