Russia has no intention of setting up military bases in Seychelles and not even in Vietnam, Nicaragua, Cuba and Argentina.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this on Saturday March 29 on Russian TV ‘News on Saturday with Sergey Brilyom’.

The whole interview can be read on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Mr Lavrov denied that Russia wanted to set up military bases here and this was the first official explanation from Russia on this matter.

“It is absolutely wrong. We have no plans to create military or marine bases abroad in the meaning, as you understand this term. The navy has significantly strengthened in Russia. I think that after the accession of Crimea to Russia, it will receive much more opportunities for development. In addition to the Black Sea Fleet, we also have the Far East, the North and other fleets.

It is very important for a state to have its fleet prepared at the highest level, all the more so that now we have not just to use the oceans for training purposes, but to resolve specific tasks: 

fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden, pirates appear in other parts of the world ocean as well. Our fleet makes long-distance voyages. We agree with some countries, that our ships and ships of our navy use the existing infrastructure for calling into port, maintenance, small repairs, supplementing food and water reserves, recreation of crews.

We are not talking about any construction of bases like Americans do. We do not intend to have any agreements like those concluded by Americans, ensuring their military personnel immunity from any crimes in the territory of their stay,” said Mr Lavrov.

Asked if the abovementioned countries are among those with which Russia conducts negotiations about the right of calls of ships, Mr Lavrov answered: “There are several such countries. However, these are issues, which request consideration within the ambit of military agencies.”

Forrás: www.nation.sc