Russian Information Agency Novosti
September 13, 2013
Russian Navy Sending 3 More Ships to Mediterranean – Admiral
ST. PETERSBURG: The Russian Navy is bolstering its strength in the Mediterranean Sea from seven to ten warships, its top commander told journalists on Friday.
The guided-missile cruiser Moskva, the destroyer Smetlivy and the assault landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov are on their way to join Russia’s naval task force already stationed in the Mediterranean, the Russian Navy’s commander-in-chief Viktor Chirkov announced.
“The tasks are very clear: to avoid the slightest threat to the borders and national security. This is the practice of all navies of the world – to be located where the level of tension is increasing,” Chirkov said. “They [ships] are all acting according to the operational command plan of the offshore maritime zone.”
Russia began its military buildup in the Mediterranean in 2012. Starting in December last year, the navy established a standing task force in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in response to heightened regional tensions due to Syria’s ongoing civil war, now well into its third year.
From May 1, 2013, all Russian warships operating in the region have been grouped under a single task force under a special offshore maritime zone operational command.
Russia’s naval task force in the eastern Mediterranean currently consists of seven warships – the assault landing ships Peresvyet, Admiral Nevelskoi, Minsk, Novocherkassk, and Alexander Shabalin, the anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Panteleyev and frigate Neustrashimy.
The Russian Navy said in an earlier statement that the guided-missile cruiser Moskva had passed through the Straits of Gibraltar on September 10. The RT television channel reported that it is expected to join the Mediterranean fleet by September 15 or 16.
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Itar-Tass
September 13, 2013
Russia’s naval group in the Mediterranean will be reinforced until it guarantees Russia’s security
ST. PETERSBURG: Russia’s naval group in the Mediterranean will be reinforced to the limits allowing to avert the slightest threat to the state borders and security, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Viktor Chirkov stated on Friday.
“Russia will build up its grouping in the Mediterranean to the self-sufficiency limit for fulfilling the set tasks. The tasks are totally clear – to avert the slightest threat to the borders and security of the state,” he told reporters on Friday.
According to the commander-in-chief, “All fleets in the world have such practice – to be present where tension is growing.”
Russia’s permanent naval task force in the eastern part of the Mediterranean is currently comprised of the large landing ships Peresvet, Admiral Nevelsky, Minsk, Novocherkassk, Alexander Shabalin, the Admiral Panteleyev large anti-submarine ship and the Neustrashimy patrol ship. “In the near future the group will be supplemented by the Moskva guided-missile cruiser, Smetlivy patrol ship and Nikolai Filchenkov large landing ship. They all act according to the operational command plan in the far sea zone,” Chirkov informed.
Russia began building up forces in the Mediterranean in 2012. Last December, the Russian Navy started its constant naval presence mission in the eastern part of the Mediterranean. The ships and support vessels, performing tasks in the Mediterranean, have been grouped into a naval task force for better organisation of the force command and control. On May 1, 2013, the control agency – operational command of the far sea zone, which is currently on board the Admiral Panteleyev ship, was formed.
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Interfax
September 13, 2013
Russians opposed to military intervention in Syria – poll
MOSCOW: The overwhelming majority of Russians (84%) have heard about the over-two-years-old Syrian conflict. Some 28% sympathize with the Syrian authorities, 5% speak in favor of the insurgents and 40% deny support to both warring sides, the Public Opinion Foundation said.
It polled 1,500 respondents in 100 towns and cities in 43 regions on August 31-September 1.
Opinions differed on whether or not the international community should intervene in the Syrian conflict: 32% think it should and 35% argue the opposite.
But if military intervention does occur, 40% of the respondents said that Russia should not get involved, 18% wished their country to side with the Syrian authorities and 2% proposed to support the insurgents.
Opponents of the strike against Syria said “each country should choose its path on its own” and feared that “our soldiers might die” if Russia engaged in the hostilities. The respondents also said that “Russia had lots of its own problems” and that “any conflict should be resolved peacefully.” Some even said that foreign interference in the Syrian conflict “might spark a world war.”
Meanwhile, a survey by the Russian Public Opinion Studies Center (VTsIOM) obtained by Interfax on Wednesday illustrated the opposition of 50% of the respondents to foreign intervention in the Syria and 36% said that the global community should exert its influence on the situation in Syria.
Seventy-seven percent of Russians said they would not support an international military operation against Syria. The number was smaller, 64%, two years ago during the Libyan conflict. Only 11% of today’s respondents said they would have approved of a military intervention.
Most of the VTsIOM respondents (43%) said that Russia should not get involved, and others suggested helping Syria, primarily with arms supplies (23%).
VTsIOM polled 1,600 people in 130 towns and cities in 42 regions.
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