MOSCOW, Aug. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia and the United States will launch large-scale naval exercises in the Norwegian Sea in September, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov declared Saturday.

    Russia's Northern Fleet will participate in the drill, which isaimed at training operational compatibility of the naval forces ofboth sides, Ivanov said after talks with his US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld in Saint Petersburg, the second largest city of Russia.

    The Russian minister hailed the growing cooperation between the defense agencies of Russia and the United States, adding that over 20 joint events in the framework of bilateral relations have been conducted since the beginning of this year. Enditem