Russia prepares document on common air defense system with Belarus

MOSCOW, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to submit a document to the government on the creation of a single regional air defense system for the Russia-Belarus Union, Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday.

"The document, which specifies how the system will function, is passing through bureaucratic procedures," Ivanov said after a joint session of the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries, which approved a comprehensive program for military science cooperation in 2007-2010.

The minister also said that, in the near future, Russia would start supplying Belarus with S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to build up the common regional air defense system.