KALININGRAD. June 1 (Interfax-AVN) - Warships of the Russian Baltic Fleet will take part in the annual international Open Spirit naval exercise, due in late summer in the Baltic Sea, the fleet's press service told Interfax on Thursday.
"In accordance with the program of international military cooperation between the Baltic Fleet and the navies of Europe's leading nations, and under the fleet's combat training plan, Baltic Fleet sailors will take part in Baltops 2006 and Open Spirit 2006 international naval exercises from June to September. The Neustrashimy guard ship has already left to take part in the first maneuvers, but it is yet to be decided what ships will wave the Russian Navy flag at Open Spirit 2006," the press service said.
Open Spirit 2006 is an exercise of minesweeper forces, and two minesweepers of the fleet used to take part in them, performing various maneuvers and searching for real explosive devices left from past wars in Baltic Sea waters. This year, Russia is most likely to be represented by two minesweepers, too.
Baltic Fleet warships are expected to make visits to and business calls on the ports of Germany, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Belgium and Estonia. However these plans may be somewhat changed, the press service said.