NATO EXERCISES WITH PARTNERS IN THE BLACK SEA

AFSOUTH Release number: 16-2003
13 June 2003

Naples, Italy NATOs annual maritime and amphibious exercise COOPERATIVE PARTNER 2003 (CP 03) will take place from 20 June until 05 July 2003 near Odessa, Ukraine, and in the Black Sea. Approximately 5,000 military personnel, over 43 ships and 17 aircraft from NATO and Partner nations, including NATO standing formations will train together in Humanitarian Assistance and Peace Support Operations.

Forces from eight NATO nations: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America, together with forces from six Partner nations: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Romania and the Ukraine, and including NATOs Standing Naval Force Mediterranean, Mine Countermeasures Force South, and NATO Southern Region Headquarters will participate in the exercise.

The exercise objective is to provide support and relief to the civilian population and restore law and order after earthquakes and flooding. The exercise will include cooperation with local and international Non-Governmental Humanitarian Relief Organisations. The unique design of CP 03 exercises procedures and communications shows NATOs ability to fully integrate assigned multinational Partner forces and allows an assessment of progress in interoperability. Formal assessment of NATO and Partner mine hunting capability will occur during the exercise. While assuring the required readiness of its own forces, NATO continues its priority of maintaining peace and stability through dialogue and co-operation, to include training with Partner nations.

CP 03 is scheduled by the Regional Headquarters Allied Forces South Europe (RHQ AFSOUTH) responsible for NATO maritime operations in the Southern Region.  It will be conducted by the Headquarters Allied Naval Forces South (HQ NAVSOUTH) and supported by the Headquarters Naval Striking and Support Forces South Europe (COMSTRIKFORSOUTH), a power projection and high-readiness maritime headquarters available to the NATO force structure. Submarine operations carried out as part of CP 03 will be controlled and coordinated by Commander, Submarine Black Sea (COMSUBBLACK) in support of COMNAVSOUTH.

 

NOTE FOR THE EDITOR:

From 19 June until 05 July 2003, a Press Information Centre (PIC) will be established in Odessa, Ukraine.

Media questions prior to the start of the exercise should be addressed to the Public Information Office ALLIED FORCES SOUTH EUROPE (AFSOUTH): 

Lt Cdr. Harvey BURWIN, AFSOUTH PIO,

Viale della Liberazione s/n,

80124 Naples/Italy;

Telephone: +39 081 721 2239 or 2320;

Fax +39 081 230 2791

(e-mail: hburwin@afsouth.nato.int)

 


MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

Interested journalists shall be accredited by bona fide media organisations (Press ID or accreditation letter). The PIC will register media representatives for specific events, and escort them during the media tours. Media opportunities listed below are open to all registered journalists. Due to limited number of posts for every event, the PIC cannot guarantee attendance by every interested journalist.

20 June 03                   MAR               Coordinated arrival of maritime forces

20 June 03             JOINT      Opening Press Conference

22 June 03                    JOINT Arrival of SNFM Flagship.

                                                                                    Ships open to Public Visitors

22 June 03             MAR/AMP.   LST off-loads

23 June 03             AMPH.      Amphibious Forces

25 June 03             AMPH.      Demolition exercise  and Small Arms (live fire)

26 June 03             MAR/CIMIC  Disaster Relief Exercises

26 June 03             AIR                 Aircraft static display

27 June 03             JOINT      Distinguished Visitors Day

28 June 03       JOINT Land Component Command, Disaster       

                                                                                    Relief Response and French Field;

                                                                                    Maritime Commander in LST

30 June 03             MAR.              Amphibious main landing

02 July 03              AMPH      Marine Memorial Service

03 July 03              AMPH      Non-combatant  Evacuation

(Operation)   

 

REMARKS: A daily updated list of events will be available at the PIC.