SINGAPORE, November 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia...

Russia announced in 2007 that its Navy had resumed and would build up a constant presence throughout the world"s oceans. Once one the world"s most powerful forces, the Russian Navy now has few ships regularly deployed on the open seas.

Asked by the crew of the Varyag cruiser if Russia"s presence would be stepped up further, Medvedev said: "Yes, this is planned."

Moscow has recently contributed warships to international efforts to combat Somali pirates. A flotilla of Russian warships also participated in exercises with India and Venezuela last year.

Last year"s tour of the Mediterranean, Caribbean, South Atlantic and the Indian Oceans by a flotilla led by the heavy missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) was lauded by many in Russia as the country"s naval reappearance on a global scale and criticized in the West as echoing the Cold War-era.

After making several port calls and engaging in antipiracy operations off Somalia, the Pyotr Veliky arrived

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