Russia, Norway launch joint naval drillsMay 11, 2012 - 18:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Russian-Norwegian Pomor-2012 naval drills will begin in the Arctic on Friday, May 11 the Russian Northern Fleet spokesman said, according to RIA Novosti. The five-day exercises will be held in the Barents and Norwegian seas, Vadim Serga said. Russia’s Udaloy-class Admiral Chabanenko anti-submarine destroyer, the Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker-D) carrier-based multi-role fighter jet, the Ilyushin Il-38 (May) anti-submarine warfare aircraft and the Ka-27 (Helix) anti-submarine helicopter will take part in the drills, Serga said. The Norwegian frigate Fritdjof Nansen moored in the Barents Sea port of Severomorsk, the home base for the Russian Northern Fleet, earlier this week. On May 9, its crew took part in Victory Day celebrations in the nearby port of Murmansk and joined a military parade with some 700 Russian soldiers and officers. Russia and Norway have carried out the annual Pomor naval drills since 2010 to practice interoperability in the environmentally fragile Arctic area. The exercises include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions. Last year, the drills in the Barents and Norwegian seas involved Russian Udaloy class destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov from the Northern Fleet, Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen class frigate Helge Ingstad, coastal guard vessels and naval aircraft. The Russian-Norwegian agreement on delimiting the sea border and cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean came into force in July 2011 after 40 years of negotiations. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life, Strong Mind IDBank and Idram summarize the results of the May program of “The Power of One Dram”. Yerevan State University, Ucom sign Memorandum of Cooperation Rector of Yerevan State University Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian signed the memorandum. EU to provide budgetary support to Armenia The agreement is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the educational system of Armenia. Aliyev: No peace treaty unless Armenia changes constitution Azerbaijan will not sign a peace treaty with Armenia unless the latter changes its constitution, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. |