"Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will control the active phase of the Mobility-2004 operational-strategic exercises. On Monday, the minister will leave Moscow for the Far East, and on June 24 he will complete his visit," a spokesman for the Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti.
According to him, Sergei Ivanov plans to visit the Klerk Cape near Vladivostok where he will watch the tactical exercises and the North Fleet Marines' combat range practice. Under the scenario of the exercises, the Marines will have to land on the shore by using the resources of the Pacific Fleet and to destroy several bandit groups of terrorists who had captured part of the shore. During these exercises the Mariners will practice cooperation with other forces which will support them from the sea, air and the land.
On Wednesday, June 23, Sergei Ivanov will watch the battalion and company combat range practice on the Sergeyevsky proving-ground in the Far Eastern military district. Paratroopers and infantry from the permanent readiness forces, who have been airlifted to the Far East from the European part of Russia, and the units of the Far Eastern military district will take part in these exercises.
The spokesman for the Defense Ministry said that the aim of the Mobility-2004 exercises is to accomplish the tasks of territorial and civil defense and of locating and destroying reconnaissance-subversive and terrorist groups.
"The Defense Minister also plans to meet with the Russian President's plenipotentiary in the Far Eastern Federal District Konstantin Pulikovsky, Maritime Territory governor Sergei Darkin and with the command of the forces deployed in the region," the spokesman said.
