Ukraine, Mongolia to expand cooperation in military-technological sphere

Leonid Kuchma, head of the Ukrainian state, announced on Monday at a joint press conference with Mongolian president Bagabandi Natsagiyn that Ukraine was eager to intensify cooperation with Mongolia in the military and technological sphere.

The Mongolian leader is currently in Kiev on an official visit.

According to President Kuchma, the Ukrainian military and industrial sector possesses every possibility to update Mongolia's military equipment which was manufactured by the former USSR.

In his turn, the Mongolian president pointed out that his country was in need of assistance from Ukraine, first of all to update and modernize its military equipment which the Mongolian Army was armed with.

He also reminded that the majority of Mongolian regular officers were at one time educated in Ukrainian military institutions and it would be logical to organize their re-training in Ukraine.

The Presidents of Ukraine and Mongolia summed up their meeting by signing a joint statement on the state of and prospects for Ukrainian-Mongolian cooperation.

They also signed a set of inter-governmental documents, including the agreements on double taxation, and on cooperation in the area of education and science.