Russia, US To Exchange Data On Portable Missiles
Russia and the United States will soon for the first time begin sharing information on transfers of mobile surface-to-air missiles outside their respective national borders, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Monday.

"In mid-November, the first exchanges of information on transfer outside the national borders of Russia or the United States of portable anti-aircraft missiles will take place," Ivanov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

He said the United States had recently signed an agreement to this effect with Russia, which already has similar accords with countries of the former Soviet Union.

According to the news agencies, Ivanov referred in general to "mobile" missile systems.

Both the United States and Russia however focused specifically in the past on man-portable surface-to-air missiles, or MANPADS, in efforts to tighten controls on dangerous conventional weapons.