MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The Command of the Russian Northern Fleet thinks that it is necessary to ensure the regular presence of two its ships in neutral waters of the Barents and Norway Seas to protect Russia's national and economic interests.
"Five or six ships of the Russian Northern Fleet should be assigned to patrol the waters in the area in shifts, for which additional money should be allocated for training and support," Vyacheslav Popov, former Northern Fleet commander and Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee, told Interfax-Military News Agency Monday.
He referred to the report by Vice Admiral Mikhail Abramov, Northern Fleet commander, made at the recent extramural session of the committee in Murmansk, held last week.
Abramov said that adjacent countries employ six coast guard ships to monitor the activity in the area. Russia has only one ship operated throughout the whole year.
"The whole world turns to the ocean for resources, which will undoubtedly cause certain conflicts. And the Navy is aimed to protect national interests at sea," Popov said.
Moreover, the Northern Fleet Command hails further military cooperation with Norway. "And first of all, we should visit Norwegian seaports more often to demonstrate our flag and gain positive reputation in eyes of Norwegian population," he said.
He referred to the October tour by the Admiral Levchenko and Severomorsk anti-submarine ships in the Atlantic as a positive example. After the ships participated in the Northern Eagle 2004 with the USS Hue City cruiser, they carried out a broad cultural, military and diplomatic mission in Norway, their visit positively spotlighted by Norwegian mass media throughout their stay in the country.