TOKYO, September 28 (Itar-Tass) — Russian-Japanese naval exercises are going on successfully in the Sea of Japan (the East Sea), Military Attach· of the Russian Embassy to Japan Col. Alexander Zorin told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
The convoy of the Pacific Fleet warships with the guards missile-carrying cruiser Varyag as the flagship under the command of Captain First Rank Sergei Zhuga arrived in the Japanese port of Maizuru on the western coast of the Honshu Island last Sunday to participate in traditional joint naval exercises, which are devoted to search-and-rescue operations, communication services and navigation drills. The ongoing naval exercises became the 12th ones in the history of cooperation between the Russian Navy and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces.
Russian and Japanese naval sailors have already practiced the cooperation in joint operations, Zorin said. “The Russian Navy and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces acquired a major experience of cooperation,” the military attach· said. The naval forces of the countries “have the full mutual understanding in such particularly complicated issues, as, for instance, the communication services between foreign warships,” he noted.
“Russian-Japanese naval exercises are regular and new elements are included each time in their scenario. The measures are being practiced to examine suspicious ships in the sea by the Russian Navy and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces during their patrolling missions in the Gulf of Aden,” Zorin pointed out. “The courtesy visit of the Russian Pacific Fleet warships is going on successfully in relation to its official part and a cultural and entertainment agenda,” he pointed out.
Along with the missile-carrying cruiser Varyag the tanker Irkut and the sea tugboat MB-61 are participating in the naval exercises from Russia. Four warships headed by the destroyer Akebono represent Japan in the drills. After the visit to Maizuru the Pacific Fleet convoy will head for the Mariana Islands.