Three Russian Warships Arrive In Surabaya

Surabaya (Antara Bali) - Three Russian warships, namely the Admiral Pantelev, Fotiy Krylov and Boris Butoma, have arrived at Surabaya's Tanjung Perak seaport, according to a press release issued by the Indonesian Navy's  5th Main Base here Thursday.

On hand at the port to greet the three Russian warships were  Russian Embassy officials and  senior officers of the Indonesian Navy's 5th  Main Base in Surabaya and a group of typically  Surabaya Remo dancers.

The purpose of the three Russian warships' visit  to Indonesia was to strengthen the relations between the two countries, in addition to carrying out joint exercises with the Indonesian Navy.

All the three warships would stay  in Surabaya for four days from January 19 to 22 to conduct a series of activities.

On the agenda of the Russian warships crew during their visit in Surabaya were a courtesy call on the commander of the Indonesian Navy's 5th  Main Base, receiving  Indonesian Navy officers on board the  Admiral Pantelev, a meeting with the mayor of Surabaya, and sports matches with members of the Indonesian Navy's  Eastern Fleet Command.

The  Admiral Pantelev is a battle ship with anti-submarine  weapons, the  Fotiy Krylov a rescue tug boat and the Boris Butoma  a marine tank vessel.

Col Maman Firmansyah, operations assistant to the commander of the Indonesian Navy's  5th Main Base, said the Indonesian Navy welcomed the three Russian warships' visit.

During their sail through the Malacca Strait up to the  Port of Tanjung Perak , the Russian naval flotilla was escorted by an Indonesian warship.

"When they depart, we will also escort the three Russian war ships up to the Indonesian sea border," he said.

Last January 18, the Russian defense attaché, Colonel Vladimir Fedorovich Afasenkov, visited  the Indonesian Navy's 5th Main Base  Headquarters in Surabaya to coordinate about the expected arrival of Russian warships.(T007)