MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The Russian fleet's presence in the Mediterranean is a stabilizing factor for the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We are not interested in even more destabilization in the Mediterranean region, and our fleet's presence there is certainly a factor stabilizing the situation," Lavrov said at a press conference summing up 2012 events on Wednesday.
Russian naval ships were unable to go on long-range cruises until recently, but the situation has changed, he said.
"For the army and the fleet to be in the right and necessary condition, they need to exercise, and exercises of our ground forces, air forces, and navy have become regular, and there is nothing unusual in this," he said.
The Russian Navy is also actively involved in combating marine piracy, he said.