Information security system created in Russia's North

An information base providing security and control over the situation at Russia's continental shelves will be created in the Russian North, including in the Barents Sea region, said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov after the session of the Maritime Board in Arkhangelsk.

"The first such system is already operating in Primorye [Russian Far East], it allows to receive data about the situation under water, above water and in the airspace in Primorye; it allows to determine in the real time mode the location of ships, vessels, nuclear submarines and aircraft," Mr. Ivanov said.

"Today, at a board session, Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov confirmed the necessity to create a second stage of the information system in the Barents Sea to know the situation," added the defense minister.

He said that construction of the Belgorod nuclear submarine will be completed and it will enter combat duty.

"Unfortunately, one can't do the impossible, but funds for the Belgorod are envisaged," Mr. Ivanov said.

He recalled that there is a certain procedure of financing Russian ship-building. "We won't forget about the Belgorod," the minister said.

The Belgorod nuclear submarine is now being completed at Sevmash shipyards in Severodvinsk.