"Russia plans to join NATO military fleets in patrolling the Mediterranean Sea", sad Mr. Ivanov.
According to him, the patrols should be carried out on "an exactly agreed and established legal basis".
He said that during NATO patrols in the Mediterranean Sea some vessels had been checked on voluntary basis. If a vessel refused to be checked, NATO forces did not apply any punitive measures to it, but escorted it to the port and made sure that the vessel entered the port, said the defense minister.
As to the Black Sea, the Black Sea Countries' navy, part of the Black Sea Force, and, in particular, Turkey decided to patrol the Black Sea by assets of this force, not involving fleets of third parties, reminded Mr. Ivanov.
Sergei Ivanov also told reporters that Russia intended to step up its military presence in the North Caucasus.
"We have been building up our armed forces in this region for three years and will continue to do it", said Mr. Ivanov.
According to him, the North Caucasian military district is the most mission capable, numerous and well-equipped in the Russian Armed Forces.
Mr. Ivanov called "terrorists' bold raid" the recent incident in Ingushetia (North Caucasian republic bordering on Chechnya), where the terrorists' attack killed 100 persons, mainly law enforcement agencies' officers.
