International Naval exercises took place in the Black Sea

On Tuesday a rendez-vous of combat Navy ships of Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and the Russian Black Sea fleet took place in Sevastopol.

According to the information provided by press services of the Russian Black Sea fleet and of the Ukrainian Navy, the objective of the exercises was to carry out the second activation of the Black Sea Naval grouping of operative interaction "Black Sea Force" which would take place in the Black Sea from 12 to 28 August.

On Wednesday the Committee of commanders of the "Black Sea Force" grouping will finalize in Sevastopol development of the plan of the second Naval exercises in which fleets of 6 littoral states will participate.

On Thursday in Sevastopol representative of the Turkish Navy Rear-Admiral Nusret Guner who commanded the first exercises will officially transfer command of the second "Black Sea Force" activation to Captain 1st rank Igor Tenyukh, representative of the Ukrainian Navy.

From Friday till Sunday in Sevastopol harbours basic training of exercises participants will be carried out, on 12 August the united detachment composed of 6 combat ships will leave Seavastopol to go towards Turkey.

The Russian Black Sea fleet will be represented at the rendez-vous-cruise by sea mine sweeper "Zheleznyakov", and the Ukrainian Navy - by command ship "Slavutich". From 12 to 28 August the naval force under flags of 6 states will make good-will military and diplomatic visits to ports of Istanbul, Constantsa (Romania) and Varna (Bulgaria). During the cruise seamen will master search and rescue, `antimine and anti-terrorist operations.

The press service of the Ukrainian Navy reported that the Black Sea Naval grouping of operative interaction "Black Sea Force" was created in Istanbul on 2 April 2001 on the basis of the inter-state agreements of commanders of 6 states with the objective to strengthen good-neighbourly relations and cooperation between the littoral states, to ensure navigation safety, peace and stability in the Black Sea region.