Russian warships to resume ocean patrolling

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, DEC. 28. The Russian Navy will return to the Indian Ocean next year for the first time in more than 10 years, the Naval Chief announced today.

Scores of Russian warships will resume regular patrolling in world oceans in 2001, the Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, told a press conference in Moscow. He said that beginning early next year, the Russian fleet would establish permanent presence in the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

He stressed that the resumption of patrolling did not mean Russia had any aggressive plans.

``We are just returning to the world ocean, where we first sailed out 40 years ago'', Adm. Kuroyedov said. ``It is time we stopped confining our interests to Russia's economic zone and turned our sights on the world ocean.''

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Section  : International
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