Russian Pacific Fleet welcomes visiting yanks

A delegation of the command of the US 7th Fleet, led by Vice Admiral Robert Willard, has arrived here on an official visit. The visit is at the invitation of the commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet, Admiral Viktor Fyodorov, Rosbalt was told at the press service of the Fleet. This is the second visit for Willard to the Pacific Fleet's principal base. The first, in August 2002, was a working trip.

Willard is to meet with Fyodorov, tour the missile-carrying cruiser Varyag and the Makarov Naval Institute and view one of the residences being built for military personnel. In addition, the Americans will watch a demonstration by the Pacific Fleet's Black Berets (Marines) of hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, use of technology and weapons and will be made acquainted with barracks conditions.

Willard goes on to Petropavlovsk on Thursday at the invitation of Vice Admiral Viktor Gavrilov, commander of the Pacific Fleet's Northeast Group. On Kamchatka he will tour a missile-carrying vessel, a multipurpose nuclear submarine and Avachinsk Bay. The 7th Fleet commander returns to Japan on Saturday.