* Economic problems forced Ukraine into the joint air defence system
it formed with other Commonwealth states earlier this month, the
commander of the former Soviet republic's anti-aircraft forces said
today.
''Already in the first years of independence, our anti-aircraft
defence system has run into serious problems, which are nearly
impossible to resolve considering the economic situation and isolation
from other Commonwealth countries,'' General Mykhailo Lopatyn told a
news conference.
Ukraine signed an agreement with most of the 11 other CIS members to
implement joint control over air space, inform each other about air
attacks and cooperate in fending off aggressors.
''The signatories of the agreement will get benefits like the use of
military research bases in Russia and Kazakhstan, and access to
technology and spare parts,'' he said.
''Once we start getting the equipment, we can push up battle-readiness
to 90-95% within three weeks,'' he said.
The Soviet Union's air defence system took 25 years to develop during
the Cold War and guard points encircled its borders. But the system
started crumbling when the communist monolith fell apart in late 1991.
Lopatyn said 40% of Ukraine's fighter aircraft were out of action
because of shortages of fuel and spare parts. Last year pilots only flew
a third as many practice flights as they had carried out during the
Soviet era.
The joint system in no way compromised Kiev's sovereignty, he said.
''Each state administers its own anti-aircraft forces independently.
They simply cooperate together.''--Reuter.
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