BLACKSEAFOR naval exercise to start in the Black Sea

BUCHAREST, August 11 (Itar-Tass) - The Black Sea Naval Cooperation
Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) is starting an exercise in the Black Sea on
Wednesday.
The BLACKSEAFOR naval group was created in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2001.
This is the only naval task group formed according to a territorial
principle. It includes Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, Turkey and
Russia. One warship from each member country participates in the
BLACKSEAFOR exercises.
The Russian airborne ship Yamal has left Sevastopol for the Romanian
Port of Constanta.
The ships will focus on anti-terror, humanitarian and anti-mine
operations. They will practice how to search for and rescue ships in
distress. Their crews will also learn to coordinate joint environmental
protection actions.
The exercise will last until August 30.

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