Kremlin says there's no need to revive Russian naval base in Vietnam

01.11.2010 Kremlin is not interested in restoration of Cam Ranh base (Vietnam), although considers necessary to establish materiel and technical support center there, said Sergei Prikhodko, presidential assistant.

"I don't think we need to revive Cam Ranh base to the former state", said Prikhodko on the threshold of Medvedev's visit to Vietnam.

According to him, there were nothing related to this issue in the list of documents prepared for the visit.

On the other hand, Russia has maintenance centers in a number of countries, reminded Prikhodko. That is "absolutely logical" especially in the context of EU-NATO escalation of anti-piracy efforts.

"We want to use that good experience accumulated by our countries in shipping security and vessel supplies", he said.

"This topic [military technical cooperation] is not the focal one [at coming talks]. We have no enemies in this region any more. The question is reliable maintenance of Russian vessels and warships accomplishing tasks of international cooperation", pointed out the presidential assistant.

A top-ranking source in Moscow said in his turn that Russia does not plan to deploy military assets and personnel in Cam Ranh as it used to do in Soviet era.

According to him, this base will be similar to that in Syrian port Tartus which is normally visited by Russian warships during Mediterranean cruises. As the matter of fact, establishment of such base in Cam Ranh would not cause concern of Vietnam's neighbors like it sometimes happens in the Middle East, added the source.

He also said that the problem of piracy is urgent for Southeast Asia, so presence of Russian warships in the region will contribute to security and, therefore, to interests of regional countries.