MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax-AVN) - A Russian naval group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier will not participate in international exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, a well-informed source told Interfax-AVN.
"The naval group has headed toward Biscay Bay and will enter the Mediterranean Sea soon. Its key mission is to display the St. Andrew's Flag along the route. The group will not take part in international exercises," he said.
It was planned in the spring that the ships would participate in joint exercises with Turkey. However, the exercises were cancelled in September after the Turkish decision to deploy a European missile defense radar station on its territory. The ships will not visit the main base of the Turkish Navy, Aksaz-Karaagac, either, the source said.
The 'cold war' between Turkey and Israel, which started early this year and spread into the Eastern Mediterranean region, is another impediment to bilateral military cooperation.
"Against the backdrop of mounting tensions, Russia has no right to display military cooperation with one of the conflicting sides. For the same reason, the Russian Navy refused to hold joint exercises with Turkey in the Caspian Sea," he said.
The Russian naval group will patrol the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, mostly off Syria's shore, the source said.
A preliminary decision to hold the Russian-Turkey naval drill in the Mediterranean Sea in 2011 was made during the March 29 visit of Turkish fleet commander Admiral Emian Murat Bilgel. The plans were updated in Moscow on June 2 when Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky met with his Turkish counterpart.
In his words, visits of the Admiral Kuznetsov to foreign ports are not planned so far. The Baltic Fleet corvette Yaroslav Mudry, the Black Sea patrol boat Ladny and the North Fleet large anti-sub ship Admiral Chabanenko will visit the Syrian port of Tartous, the Tunisian port of Safaqus, the Cypriot port of Famagusta, the Italian port of Taranto and the Maltese port of La Valetta.