President Leonid Kuchma has signed the law in which Verkhovna Rada approved his decision to admit foreign army regiments into Ukraine’s territory in 2003 to conduct multinational military exercises. For the Mutual Friendship 2003 exercise (April 15-20), a contingent of Polish land forces numbering 40 servicemen with regular arms and military equipment will be admitted to Ukraine. For Rough and Ready 2003 (June 3-8) there will be up to 200 US military personnel with materiel will come to Ukraine. For the Cooperative Partner 2003 exercise (June 20-July 5) up to 50 ships, 20 planes and helicopters, and 5500 military personnel with regular arms and equipment from ten countries will arrive. Within the framework of the Peace Shield 2003 (July 8-23) up to 900 servicemen from 22 countries with arms and equipment will be admitted. Army regiments from Great Britain and Poland totaling 500 persons will take part in the Cossack Steppe 2003 from August 28 to September 12. For the Prykarpattia 2003 military exercise (September 5-October 5) up to 1500 members of the air- mobile regiment of Italy’s land forces will be allowed to come to Ukraine. Also in the second half of 2003 up to 60 servicemen from the air-mobile contingent of the US land forces with military equipment will be admitted to Ukraine for ten days. President Kuchma commissioned the Cabinet of Ministers to secure timely admittance to and withdrawal from Ukraine of the military contingents and safety for Ukrainian and foreign citizens during the exercises. Conducting multinational maneuvers in Ukraine, including those within the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, is provided for by international treaties to which Ukraine adheres.
