MOSCOW, June 1. /TASS/. Russia and Norway will hold a joint rescue exercise in the Barents Sea, the commander of Russia’s Northern Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Korolyov, told the media on Monday.
"We are going ahead with cooperation with Arctic states in maritime rescue operations. In the near future the Northern Fleet will take part in the international rescue exercise Barents-2015," he said.
He pointed out that the main common task in the Arctic Region was to maintain stability.
"Ensuring safe implementation of maritime policies and normal economic activities by the state in the Arctic Regions and the zone of the Northern Sea Route is a high priority of our efforts. The Northern Fleet’s activity in these areas is absolutely transparent and consonant with international law and the UN Charter," Korolyov said.
The Barents-2015 exercise is held in accordance with an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the rescuing people in distress in the Barents Sea. This is the sole exercise by search and rescue forces Russia and Norway hold in the Arctic regularly.