MOSCOW. April 29 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will attend a conference of defense ministers of northern European countries in the town of Visby on May 6, a Russian military diplomat said on Tuesday.
"In addition to Ivanov, the conference will be attended by the defense ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland," the diplomat told Interfax-Military News Agency.
Participants in the forum will consider security maintenance in Northern Europe, including measures against international terrorism, he said.
During his stay in Sweden that will last until May 7, the Russian minister will also hold a series of bilateral meetings, including with his Swedish and Finnish counterparts, to address the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between the national defense ministries.
The diplomat said the Russian forces had been reduced considerably in the northwestern sector over the past few years.
In particular, two joint-arms armies, an army corps, six divisions, eight brigades and a naval squadron have been disbanded. As a result over 50 percent of servicemen of the Leningrad military district, about 60 percent of servicemen of the Kaliningrad special region and almost 30 percent of servicemen of the Baltic Fleet have been reduced.
Demolition of military infrastructure elements such as command posts of the corps, army and district level, engineering ammunition storehouses and fuel storehouses, was taking place alongside with the troops reduction.
"After the reform, the Russian forces in the northeastern sector are oriented exclusively at accomplishment of defensive missions and do not pose any danger to our northern neighbor," the diplomat said.