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Experts Differ on Need for Russian Naval Presence in Persian Gulf

MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Military experts differ on whether Russian military ships should be present in the Persian Gulf.

Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, vice president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, said that the presence of Russian military ships in all key areas of the world's oceans is in the interests of Russia.

"I think the Russian fleet should be present in all key areas of the world's oceans, including the Mediterranean Sea. The presence of our military ships in the Persian Gulf is even more expedient," he told Interfax on Wednesday.

Ivashov previously headed the Russian Defense Ministry's main department for international military cooperation.

Another military expert, Colonel General Valeriy Manilov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council's committee on defense and security, said Russian military ships should be sent to the Persian Gulf only if the potential for political and diplomatic means of preventing a war against Iraq is exhausted.

"The demonstration of military force is a well-known diplomatic technique. However, in this situation it should be the last item in our strategy. Russia should be more aggressive about using political, diplomatic and any other non-military means to prevent a war in Iraq," Manilov told Interfax on Wednesday.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov told reporters on Wednesday that Russia has no plans to send military ships to the Persian Gulf. "We do not have any plans to send naval ships or other military units to the Persian Gulf area. This is an official statement," Ivanov told Interfax.

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