LISBON, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russia gives Portugal a permit for one-time military transit to Afghanistan via its territory, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Sunday. Russia has bilateral agreements on military transit to Afghanistan with some European countries, involved in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. ISAF includes a small Portuguese contingent.

Ivanov said Russian-Portuguese bilateral relations were facing no problems. He added that the two countries had signed a bilateral military agreement in 2005.

Ships of the Portuguese Navy recently visited Russian ports for the first time in 88 years, Ivanov said.