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)
