The U.S.-Russian Defense Relations Working Group agreed to be created during a visit by the Russian defense minister to Washington will focus on issues related to U.S. and Russian military reforms and help achieve transparency in military cooperation between the counties.
The Russian minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed a joint statement on the creation of the working group on Wednesday, following two days of talks in the U.S. capital.
The working group is intended to develop a "new level of relations between the military departments of both countries," the statement said.
According to the document, the working group will address the following issues: armed forces reform and transformation, priorities of defense policy and national security, transparency and confidence-building measures furthering the improvement of mutual understanding, regional and global security, new challenges and threats, and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Gates and Serdyukov, who will co-chair the group, intend to meet at least once a year, the statement said.
WASHINGTON, September 16 (RIA Novosti)
