WELCOME SIGN IN RUSSIAN "NAPORISTY" DOCKS, BAND GREETS SHIP, FRENCH NAVAL OFFICERS BOARD SHIP TO MEET CAPTAIN, RUSSIAN SAILORS IN ST TROPEZ WITH LOCAL GIRLS.




Initials



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Background: THE SOVIET ESCORT VESSEL "NAPORISTY" IS ON A GOODWILL VISIT TO FRENCH NAVAL BASE TOULON. THE VISIT - THE FIRST BY A RUSSIAN WARSHIP SINCE 1917 - IS IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

A FRENCH NAVEL BAND PLAYED AS THE RUSSIAN SHIP DOCKED. THEN FRENCH NAVAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS WENT ON BOARD TO MEET CAPTAIN VLADIMIR EROMOLENKO AND HIS OFFICERS. THE CAPTAIN GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE WHILE THE CREW WENT ASHORE TO VISIT THE CITY SHOPS - AND MEET THE LOCAL GIRLS AT ST TROPEZ.

THE VISIT COMES AT A TIMES OF GROWING DETENTE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AND OF FRANCE'S DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM NATO INTEGRATED MILITARY COMMANDS. PRESIDENT DE GAULLE'S DECLARED POLICY OF A EUROPE FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE URALS TOOK NEW IMPETUS WITH HIS VISIT TO THE SOVIET UNION IN JUNE.

BOTH COUNTRIES ARE DEVELOPING COLOUR TELEVISION TECHNIQUES AND HOP TO INCREASE TRADE. THE FRENCH STATE-OWNED RENAULT CAR COMPANY IS TO SUPPLY EQUIPMENT TO THE SOVIET UNION AS PART OF AN AGREEMENT TO PROMOTE TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

A SOVIET ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL DELEGATION OF 23 MEMBERS HEADED BY MR NIKOLAI KOMANOV, A DEPUTY FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER IS CURRENTLY ON A THREE-WEEK VISIT TO FRANCE. FRANCE IS ALSO TO FORGE STRONGER LINKS WITH BULGARIA AFTER LAST WEEK'S TALKS IN PARIS BETWEEN PRESIDENT DE GAULLE AND THE BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER MR TODOR ZHIVKOV.

NEXT MONTH THE SOVIET AVIATION MINISTER, MR PYOTR DEMETIEV IS TO VISIT FRANCE TO STUDY THE PROSPECTS OF FRENCH SOVIET CO-OPERATION IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY.