Russia Shuns Baltic Drills, Refuses To Receive U.S. Ship

[Purveyor]

MOSCOW, August 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia said on Tuesday it will not participate in the NATO-led Open Spirit 2008 naval exercise in the Baltic Sea, and will refuse to receive a U.S. warship in the Far East port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

"In accordance with a decision taken by the Russian defense minister, the Navy command has sent a notification via diplomatic channels to Lithuania that Baltic Fleet mine sweepers will not take part in the Open Spirit 2008 international naval exercises in the Baltic Sea," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.

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Russia's Baltic Fleet ships have been participating in the Open Spirit international exercise since 2003.

Dygalo said diplomats will also notify the U.S. of the "impossibility" of receiving a U.S. Navy frigate, which is due to pay a business visit to the Kamchatka Peninsula on September 5-9.

Last week the U.S. and Britain officially pulled out of a Russia-NATO naval exercise, FRUKUS 2008, slated for August 15-23 in the Sea of Japan.

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RIA NOVOSTI: http://en.rian.ru/world/20080819/116138676.html

[Supersedeas]

1. more evidence that Condi's Cold War diplomacy is working.

[Indenturedebtor]

2. Wonderful. Repukes are unfit to govern. Understatement of the year n/t

[Thothmes]

3. Damn, missed liberty call in Vladivostock.