PARIS, May 6 (RIA Novosti) - The FRUKUS 2009
international naval exercises will be held in Brest, northwest
France on June 21-27, an aide to the naval attache at the
Russian embassy in France announced on Wednesday.
The annual exercises traditionally involve Russia, France,
Britain and the U.S.
"The vessels will arrive in Brest on June 19, with the
program starting on June 21. The active stage of the exercises
will take place on June 23-26... The ships will leave the port
on June 27," Alexei Lobanov said.
The French Tourville frigate and Russia's Admiral
Chabanenko missile destroyer are due to take part.
Last year, the U.S. and Britain officially pulled out of
the annual Russia-NATO exercise held in the Sea of Japan on
August 15-23 over Russia's brief conflict with Georgia.
Previously called RUKUS, the exercises were launched in
1988 as a vehicle for dialogue between the Soviet Union, the
United Kingdom, and the United States. The exercise name was
changed to FRUKUS in 2003, when France formally joined the
group.
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