RUSSIA-FRANCE: LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DISCUSS PARTNERSHIP

ST. PETERSBURG, October 8 (RIA Novosti's Maxim Nichiporenko) - Spokesmen of Russia's Interior troops command are receiving delegates of the Gendarmerie nationale of France in St. Petersburg to take stock of bilateral partnership. The information came from Sergei Topchii, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Interior troops under the Russian Interior Ministry, as he was addressing a news conference on the French visit. This partnership will currently focus on commando experience exchanges, and officers training, he said.

"I hope we shall have fruitful teamwork. We have ample experience to share, and much to borrow from Russian colleagues," remarked Corinne Bruno-Meunier, second in charge of France's Foreign Ministry military cooperation board.

The Gendarmerie delegates appeared in Russia Monday, October 4. Colonel-General Nikolai Rogozhin, Russia's Interior troops Commander-in-Chief, received them in Moscow. The guests visited a Detached Operation Division of the Interior troops to see commando anti-terror training, equipment, arsenals and individual protection devices.

The French delegates are staying in St. Petersburg into tomorrow for conferences with Interior commanding officers. They will visit the Special Materials research-cum-production amalgamation, which designs and manufactures anti-terror weaponry and equipment, and individual protection devices for the police and Interior soldiers.