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Peace Shield-2005 military exercises not directed against Russia

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KIEV, August 12 (RIA Novosti) - The Peace Shield-2005 international military exercises were not directed against Russia, a senior Ukrainian Navy official said Friday.

Navy Deputy Commander Ilya Chaly, who has been overseeing the exercises, said "the media should not misinterpret the peacekeeping intent of the Peace Shield."

Promoting cooperation and trust between the militaries of different countries is the main goal of the maneuvers, he said.

He denied media reports about U.S. Special Forces landing at the Russian firing range in the Crimea (Ukraine), and NATO opening a base on the peninsula.

A company of U.S. marines involved in the maneuvers included reservists who underwent mobilization training and were not linked to the Special Forces, Chaly added.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet holds a firing range near the Opuk Mountain in the Crimea on lease, and the maneuvers in this area were coordinated with the Russian side, he said.

The Peace Shield maneuvers were conducted as part of the Partnership for Peace program and bilateral cooperation between the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense, and also involved defense representatives from other countries.

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