U.S. warship to take part in Victory Day celebrations in Russia
06:4706/05/2010 VLADIVOSTOK, May 6 (RIA Novosti) - The U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge will arrive in Vladivostok on Friday to take part in festivities dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Allied victory in the World War II.
"Seventh Fleet Commander, Vice Adm. John M. Bird, will also arrive in Vladivostok. He will attend the celebrations and hold a number of official meetings," a spokesman for the U.S. Consulate-General in Russia's Far East told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
The official said the Blue Ridge crew would take part in a military parade in downtown Vladivostok to symbolize the allied relations between the United States and Russia during the Second World War.
The cultural agenda of the visit includes a "culinary duel" between the U.S. and Russian sailors, a number of sport events, and visits to local schools and children's hospitals.
The world famous Seventh Fleet Band will perform several concerts at various events and on the streets of Vladivostok.
As the flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, Blue Ridge provides the capability for seagoing command and control of theater level forces by naval and joint commanders during peacetime or conflict, and provides naval support for U.S. diplomatic initiatives and objectives.
In July 2006, the warship paid an official visit to Vladivostok along with Vice Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, then Commander of U.S. 7th Fleet.
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