The Ukrainian Defense Minister, who is participating in a meeting of the CIS Member-States Council of Defense Ministers in Moscow, stressed that the idea for establishing the peacekeeping contingent within the GUAM aims at strengthening security in the region, "is case such decision is made". He said that the GUAM peacekeeping battalion composed of 530 persons will include three companies, engineer platoon, intelligence platoon, communications platoon, mortar platoon, military police platoon, logistics support company and other support elements. "National components of the joint element will be regularly dislocated at its national territory, and it is planned to conduct two command-and-staff exercise annually with all battalion personnel involved in the territory of a state designated a commander", Anatoliy Hrytsenko informed. Decision on the contingent's mission to a particular "crisis spot" will be adopted on the basis of a relevant mandate and with the consent of all parties.