"In this way, it [strength] will be set at the optimal level of defense sufficiency," the document says. "This allows us to talk about the completion of the more complex and large-scale transformations in the army and navy and concentrate on the planned combat training and raising the combat readiness of troops."
The document says that measures to optimize their composition and the groups of forces in strategic directions have been implemented as part of the plan of the development of the armed forces for 2001- 2005.
Judging by the results of the Defense Ministry's work this year, considerable progress has been made in the combat training of troops as result of holding a whole number of large-scale naval exercises. For example, the document mentions the accomplishment by the aircraft-carrying group of the Northern Fleet of missions in the North Atlantic.
A naval force of the Black Sea Fleet led by the Guards' missile-carrying cruiser Moskva took part in the Russian-Italian exercise codenamed IONIEX-2004 and a Russian-French exercise was held in the North Atlantic. The Russian-U.S. maneuvers codenamed North Eagle-2004 was held, as well (large anti-submarine ships Severomorsk and Admiral Levchenko took part in them from the Russian side).
Upon completion of the exercise in the North Atlantic, the crew of the nuclear submarine Vepr paid an unofficial visit to the French naval base at Brest. This was the first-ever visit by a Russian nuclear submarine to a foreign port.
"Cooperation with the fleets of foreign states, including those of the NATO countries has been intensified," reads the Defense Ministry's report.
