US frigate visits Murmansk

ARKHANGELSK, September 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The U.S. Navy frigate Carr
arrived in Murmansk on Friday on a visit.
The ship has called at this port instead of Severomorsk, which the
Americans earlier planned to visit. The site was changed at their request,
a source at the Northern Fleet press service told Itar-Tass.
Frigate commander Patrick Kulakowski explained during the meeting with
reporters that they did not call at Severomorsk because there was no
administrative agreement. But the American sailors are glad to visit
Murmansk, he noted.
The change had no serious effect on the visit schedule. During the
first day, the American delegation visited the Murmansk regional
government and a senior Navy official -- Deputy Commander of the Northern
Fleet Rear Admiral Alexei Belkin. In the evening, there was a traditional
reception aboard the visiting ship.
Swimming, mini-football and tug-of-war competitions between Russian
and American sailors are planned for Saturday in the sports complex
Avangard. Representatives of the frigate crew will visit one of Murmansk's
schools. The cultural programme for the crew includes bus excursions
around Murmansk and to the Navy Museum of the Northern Fleet. The ship
command together with representatives of the fleet command will visit the
memorial "To Defenders of the Soviet Arctic" and lay wreaths at the
Eternal Flame and the graves of Northern Convoys participants at the
international cemetery in Murmansk.
The visit of the American ship will last till September 5.