No Link Between Russian Bomber Flights, Row With UK – Air Force Spokesman

Text of report by Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 18 July

[Presenter] Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Col-Gen Aleksandr Zelin has said reports in the Western mass media to the effect that Russian strategic bombers were heading towards British airspace do not correspondent with reality. Ekho Moskvy was told this by the official Air Force spokesman, Col Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy.

[Drobyshevskiy] Our aircraft were making planned flights over neutral waters. We have carried out similar flights before and will continue doing so as part of training for our long-range aviation crews.

The Russian long-range aviation is getting back on its feet after a period of difficulties connected with fuel shortages. The long- range aviation will continue to develop the utilization of advanced air bases it requires for its functioning.

There is no need to link the flights of long-range aviation with a diplomatic row and the flexing of muscles.

Under our combat training programme, bombers’ combat training is scheduled at least six months in advance.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.