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Felix Gromov, commander-in-chief of Russia's Navy, promised that the Pacific Fleet will remain one unit with headquarters in Vladivostok.

But he pointed out that Russia’s Navy has undergone drastic personnel cuts in an effort to modernize and streamline the branch of the military. And, in a wide-ranging press conference July 23, he said the fleet has solved its problems of nuclear waste.

In an event devoted to introducing the new commander of the Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Mikhail Zakharenko, Gromov, discussed the reform of the fleet – which has drawn widespread articles and speculation in the press. The main task of the reform effort is to preserve and increase battle readiness, he said.

Without specifically citing recent newspaper stories, Gromov contradicted reports that the structure of Russia's Navy will radically change. The Pacific Fleet will be integral, but it will be based in two main places: Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, he said

Gromov outlined fleet reform within the broader restructuring of Russia's military. Changes will happen in two stages. The first stage – a survey of battle units and weeding out the old, inefficient ones – will be finished by 1998.

The navy’s size has declined radically in the last five years, Gromov said. In 1992, there were 452,000 people in the Russia's Navy; this year it is 227,000. In 1998, another 30,000 will be dismissed. “Not a single officer will be retired without getting a place to live and all the money he has earned,” said Gromov.

The navy’s new policy is to concentrate forces, rather than have them scattered around, Gromov said. The reform involves closing numerous arsenals and military towns scattered around the region. In Primorye the navy owns 40 such towns, but so far only seven have been sold.

The second stage of reform – the introduction of updated equipment – is scheduled for 2001. For instance, instead of several types of missiles, a single missile will be adopted for both ships and submarines. Still, the current missiles appear to be in good shape. Last year, the fleet tested missiles in Kamchatka which had been stored for more than 12 years, Gromov said. Each fired successfully. (Gromov said he worries that enlisted men are not very educated. In 1959, when he commanded a ship, engineering students were in charge of the guns on his ship, Gromov said. But now, such positions are held by 18- and 19-year-old kids right out of high school.)

Addressing another controversial issue, Gromov said the fleet is taking care of its own radioactive waste.

“The problem of the liquid radioactive waste in the Pacific Fleet has been solved,” said Gromov. Engineers have been constructing a controversial $100 million nuclear waste treatment facility in Bolshoi Kamen. But Gromov said two processing facilities constructed by military engineers have processed all the liquid wastes stored in old tankers in Pavlovsk Bay. Now the fleet is waiting for the Ministry for Nuclear Power to build a storage site for solid radioactive waste. In the mean time, solid waste is stored in temporary sites.

Gromov said military enterprises have to adjust to the new conditions. For instance, Zvezda factory in Bolshoi Kamen is used to repair second-generation submarines, but management should prepare the staff and equipment for dealing with the fourth-generation subs.

The Progress factory in Arseniev now makes missiles, and the government should let the factory sell them abroad, Gromov said.

Although the press conference was held in part to introduce the new fleet commander, Gromov did not allow reporters to question Zakharenko. Answering a question on why the commanders have changed so often (Zakharenko is the sixth commander in the past five years), Gromov said, “It is not because we wanted it that way. It is just a coincidence.”

However, under the previous commander, Vladimir Kuroyedov, the fleet became the best in Russia, Gromov said. Before Kuroyedov, the fleet did not test missiles for four years. Under him the fleet fired missiles three during war games. Gromov expressed hope that Zakharenko will help to keep that level. Questions about the former Pacific fleet commander Igor Khmelnov, who is charged with financial abuses, seemed to irritate Gromov.

“Ask prosecutors all these questions,” he said.

Khmelnov confessed to buying apartments for his relatives at the fleet's expense. Gromov said Khmelnov would have never been promoted the chief of Russia's Navy headquarters if the misdeeds had been known. Gromov spoke highly of recent visits by Pacific Fleet ships to Korea and Japan. “We need to do everything possible in order to live in peace with China, Japan and other countries,” Gromov said. “Reforms also mean having friends and allies.”

He added that some Chinese officers will be trained in Russia's Military Academy.