IT is interesting that the Russian Consul General for Scotland Andrey Pritsepov should reply (Letters, July 13)to your article about Russian submarines monitoring Trident submarine's sonar profile. Methinks he protests too much.

He states that 145 million Russians would not vote for a politician who wastes his time following a "lonely" British submarine. Leaving aside any questions about Russian elections in the past, this "lonely" submarine does have the capacity to turn Moscow into a twin of Chernobyl and consequently the 145 million Russians would probably prefer a leader who did keep a watch on it and its three siblings.

Spying on other countries whether friend or foe has been going on for hundreds of years. Intelligence gathering is the most important part of defence.

Whether it be monitoring communications and breaking codes or watching the movements of other countries' forces, knowing what everyone else is doing is essential strategically. With modern electronic digital processing technology no submarine can hide any more making them, like the battleship, a superseded technology.

When it comes to criticising other country's equipment it is true that the type-45 destroyers are competing with the Austin Allegro in the reliability stakes, however Russia's only carrier cannot go anywhere without a tug and is readily visible by its Trabant-like smoke trail. Perhaps he can translate "pots and kettles" into Russian.

In Wester Ross we feel a special affinity for Russia. All around my house there is still plenty of evidence of the base for the Arctic Convoys which supplied Russia with equipment in 1939-45 war. He is most welcome to visit the various sites and the museum and see a time when Russia and Scotland co-operated to their mutual benefit.

Bruce D Skivington,

8 Pairc a Ghliob, Strath, Gairloch, Wester Ross.