December 06, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 25, 1428

MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday launched naval manoeuvres in the north Atlantic and the Mediterranean to boost its maritime presence and protect shipping, Russian news agencies reported, quoting Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

“From today until Feb 3 a deployment of ships is planned in the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. The purpose... is to ensure our naval presence and the protection of Russian shipping,” Serdyukov said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Taking part in the exercises will be four battleships and seven other ships of the Northern, Black Sea and Baltic fleets as well as 47 planes and 10 helicopters, he said.

“Three tactical exercises are planned involving practical and mock firing from air and sea,” he said, adding that ports in 12 countries would be visited.

Russian officials have called for a strengthening of the country’s naval presence in the Mediterranean, although the navy has moved to quash reports it is seeking a permanent Mediterranean naval base.

Putin has made restoring Moscow’s military prestige a central priority at a time of political transition in which he is due to stand down as president next year.

The Mediterranean is a key shipping route for Russian oil exports, which come from Russia’s Black Sea coast.

The latest naval manoeuvres come after the air force renewed Soviet-style long-range flights by strategic warplanes.

During the Cold War, Moscow had the use of a naval supply station in Syria, reflecting the Soviet Union’s substantial influence in the Middle East.—AFP