BLACKSEAFOR TO CONDUCT EXERCISE SOON
RIA Novosti
MOSCOW, April 1, (RIA Novosti) - The Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (Blackseafor), which comprises Russian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Romanian, Turkish and Ukrainian warships, is to conduct an exercise in the near future.
It is intended to deploy our forces over the April 4-27, 2005 period, an official from the Russian Black Sea fleet's press service told RIA Novosti. The entire exercise will last 24 days. High-seas operations will last thirteen days; meanwhile port exercises will take 11 days to complete.
In his words, Blackseafor ships are to visit Turkey's Eregli and Istanbul seaports, as well as Burgas (Bulgaria) and Costance (Romania).
Blackseafor ships will take part in the Black Sea Partnership - 2005 exercise, as well as a Turkish-planned exercise aiming to locate and rescue a damaged submarine, the Black Sea fleet spokesman noted.
The Russian Navy will contribute its Caesar Kunikov capital amphibious-landing ship, with the Shakhtyor (Miner) tug searching for the afore-said sub and taking part in subsequent rescue operations.
Warship crews will hold joint exercises on the high seas, conducting tactical maneuvers. They will also conduct defensive anti-boat and ASW
operations, testing their communications networks. Moreover, navy sailors will streamline operations within a multinational headquarters' framework, the press center official stressed.
Exercise participants will attach priority to anti-terrorist measures throughout the entire duration of their operations, the agency's interlocutor added.
According to the Black Sea fleet's press center, the exercise will involve the Bulgarian Navy's Sirius medium-size amphibious-landing ship, the Georgian Navy's Dioskuria missile boat, the Romanian Navy's Maselariu frigate, the Turkish Navy's Yildirim guided-missile frigate and the Ukrainian Navy's Slavutich headquarters ship.
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