Navies of Black Sea littoral states plan BLACKSEAFOR exercises

: Posted On Monday, 27 February 2012 10:02

Naval Forces News - Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, Romania, Ukraine

Navies of Black Sea littoral states plan BLACKSEAFOR exercises

The Navies of Black Sea littoral states began to plan BLACKSEAFOR exercises due this year, spokesman for the Russian Black Sea Fleet Captain First Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachev told Itar-Tass.

“A meeting on the issue is being held in Divnomorskoye in the Krasnodar Territory at the base of the permanent coordination centre of the Black Sea Naval Force BLACKSEAFOR,” he said.

“Russia is represented by Assistant Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet Captain First Rank Yuri Zemsky. At the meeting the negotiators will agree on a scenario of the military exercises in April and discuss cooperation during joint exercises,” Trukhachev noted.

Project 1164 Atlant class "Moskva" cruiser, flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet
(Picture: George Chernilevsky)

The Black Sea Naval Force BLACKSEAFOR was created after Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, Romania and Ukraine signed the relevant agreement in Istanbul on April 2, 2001. All signatory nations ratified the agreement by 2002.

BLACKSEAFOR primarily should accomplish peaceful goals. This naval force can carry out operations for relief supplies, environmental protection, demining, as well as rescue and search operations. Meanwhile, BLACKSEAFOR can participate in UN, OSCE operations or other types of international activities. BLACKSEAFOR includes up to six various warships.

The BLACKSEAFOR command is realized on the rotation basis by each signatory nation. Russia took over the command of the Black Sea Naval Force in the previous year. The BLACKSEAFOR military exercises are held twice a year in April and August.