6 Jun 2013 16:02

Russian Navy should have permanent presence in Mediterranean - Putin

MOSCOW. June 6 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the task of creating conditions for permanent presence of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean.

"It's a strategic region. We have our interests associated with national security there. For this reason, we are talking about the creation of conditions for permanent presence of Russian ships in the Mediterranean in our days," Putin, who visited the central command point of the Russian Armed Forces on Thursday, said.