VLADIVOSTOK, July 30 (AVN) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov who is visiting the Pacific Fleet met Maritime Territory Governor Sergei Darkin and Vladivostok Mayor Yuri Kopylov, a spokesman for the fleet headquarters told the Military News Agency on Monday.
Ivanov heard reports of the fleet leadership in the headquarters on the situation in the units, formations and on vessels.
After finishing his work in the Maritime Territory Ivanov will fly to Kamchatka to inspect the local troops group. The defence minister is also supposed to visit the Siberian and Far Eastern military districts units.
Ivanov characterised the level of the fleet combat readiness as quite high and stated the professional skills of mariners. "The Pacific Fleet plays an important role in Russia's military doctrine. The Pacific Ocean is the largest in the world, it is the developing and promising territory that is why all countries have reasonable interests not only in the sphere of security but in the economy and trade as well," Ivanov said.
"For the past several years the Pacific Fleet suffered a coma situation but it is overcoming it right now. Personally I am ready to do everything to help the fleet vessels leave for the ocean as often as possible," Ivanov added.