[R-G] Russian Warship to Pass through Panama Canal

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGchxuT8gMHf0cDHNRfhvCgiosMw>
Russian warship to pass through Panama Canal: embassy

44 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — A Russian warship was set Friday to sail through
the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II in a symbolic
challenge to US influence in the region.

The large anti-submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko is scheduled to
traverse the waterway from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean sometime
between Friday night and Saturday morning, the Russian embassy in
Panama said.

"The only time such an event took place was in 1944 during the Second
World War, when four Russian submarines passed through" the canal,
said the embassy in a statement.

At that time, when the waterway was under US control, both Russia and
the United States were allied in the anti-Nazi coalition, the embassy
added.

The scheduled passage through the canel comes after Russian warships
on Tuesday wrapped up two days of joint exercises with Venezuelan navy
vessels.

The arrival of the Russian ships at the invitation of Venezuela's
fiercely anti-US president Hugo Chavez has been seen as a challenge to
US power in Latin America, often described as America's "backyard.

Russia has denied the exercises were aimed at any "third countries."

Moscow announced the exercises after US President George W. Bush sent
navy vessels to Georgia during the Russian-Georgian conflict in
August, angering the Kremlin. Washington said the warships were
delivering humanitarian aid.

After passing through the canal the Russian ship and its 451 crew
members will remain in Panama until December 11 at a former US naval
base.

"The main purpose (of the visit to Panama) is for the soldiers to rest
and to replenish (ship) supplies," said the embassy.

During its stay the Russian crew will also take part in soccer and
volleyball competitions with the Panamanian navy.

"The Russian vessel's friendly visit further raises Panama's
international prestige as a great naval power and the Panama Canal as
a truly neutral waterway," said the embassy.

Panama's foreign minister Samuel Lewis Navarro said Thursday that "as
we all know, the Panama Canal is open to all ships in the world,"
noting the canal's permanent Neutrality Treaty.

The 169-meter (554-foot) Admiral Chabanenko, which carries out
operations against piracy and international terrorism, belongs to
Russia's Northern Fleet.

It was part a flotilla of Russian warships, based in the Arctic port
of Murmansk, that participated in joint exercises with the Venezuelan
Navy that concluded on Tuesday.

Located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, Chabanenko's
temporary home the Rodman Naval Base hosted US military personnel
until 1999 when it was given to Panama as part of the handover of the
Panama Canal Zone.