Russia, Italy to hold joint naval and land exercises in 2011

06.12.2010 Russian and Italian defense ministries will conduct joint naval and land exercises with participation of Russian Airborne Troops and Italian mountain troops, reported RIA Novosti citing Irina Kovalchuk, spokesman for Russian defense minister.

According to her, those agreements were achieved during the seventh round of Russian-Italian top-level intergovernmental consultations which is presently held in Sochi, Russia.

Defense ministers Anatoly Serdiukov and Ignacio La Russa discussed some certain issues of military cooperation, Kovalchuk said.

"Among mutual activities planned by the two defense ministries for 2011, particular attention was paid to the joint naval exercise IONIEX-2011, mutual calls at Russian and Italian ports, and coordination of intergovernmental agreement on sea incidents prevention", pointed out Kovalchuk.

According to RIA Novosti referred to Russian Navy' official, in 2010 Russian-Italian naval exercise IONIEX was also held in the Gulf of Taranto (south Italy).

Joint exercise of Russian Airborne Troops and Italian mountain troops will be conducted in 2011 as well. "The exercise site will be determined by military experts of the two countries", said the press-secretary citing Serdiukov.