TAORMINA (Sicily), February 10 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian defense minister said Friday that Russia and NATO should make their forces operationally compatible to ensure that joint missions are more effective.
Speaking at an informal meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Sicily, Sergei Ivanov said, "Operational compatibility is becoming particularly relevant following the decision by the president of our country to commit a Russian military contingent of up to 200 troops, complete with armaments and military hardware, to a peacekeeping operation being carried out under the aegis of the UN in southern Sudan."
Ivanov said the mission's results would largely depend on how effectively the contingents deployed in Sudan dealt with operational matters.
The minister stressed the importance of Russia and NATO holding joint exercises, harmonizing communications devices and sharing data in the face of the common threat of global terrorism.
Russia and NATO will carry out a joint airlift training exercise later this year, and are expected to conduct full-scale exercises in 2007 and 2008.
