According to him, for the participation in the Active Endeavor operation Russia intends to give on a permanent basis 1-2 fighting vessels and one supply vessel from the Black Sea fleet.
"The period of participation in 2005 will amount to three months. In the next years the period of participation may be changed depending on the development of the situation and the conditions of the operation," the Russian Defense Minister said.
"This fact will certainly promote Russia's integration in European society, while the joint actions of Russia and NATO's Navies will demonstrate the unity of the two sides' opinion on the fight against international terrorism," Sergei Ivanov stressed.
The Russian Defense Minister recalled that the agreement on Russia's participation in the NATO operation was reached this summer in Istanbul at the session of the Russia-NATO Council at a level of foreign ministers. The documents regulating Russia's participation in the joint actions were signed last Thursday in Brussels at a session of the Russia-NATO Council.
NATO operation Active Endeavor has been held in the Mediterranean Sea since 2001 following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. The main aim of the operation is to prevent the transit by sea of weapons of mass destruction as well as other banned materials and their acquirement by terrorist organizations and groups.
