KALININGRAD. March 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian troops group stationed in the Kaliningrad region has been reduced by three times in the past 10 years, Kaliningrad Governor Vladimir Yegorov said at a meeting with members of the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday.
The governor stressed that the Baltic Fleet was acting in strict accordance with provisions of the Open Sea international convention in practicing prevention of naval incidents, peacekeeping activities and provision of humanitarian aid. Taking into account the fact that "the whole Baltic Sea territory is the area of contact of military and political interests", it is necessary to enhance measures of trust between countries and fleets, Yegorov said.
The governor considers it efficient to establish an international center for exchanges of data on naval activities, prevention of naval and aerospace incidents, notification of vessels and aircraft of incoming dangers, environmental incidents and disasters, the press service of the Kaliningrad region administration told Interfax-Military News Agency. This provides for the establishment of direct connection between commands of fleet operating on the Baltic Sea.
It is necessary to hold a conference of fleet commanders with a goal to elaborate proposals on improvement of the system of sea security measures, the governor added.
Reduction of mine danger that has been present in the Baltic Sea since World War II requires joint efforts as well, Yegorov said.
According to him, at present contacts between fleets are not systematic, while many issues that should be discussed concern both navies and entire states.