Black Sea countries launch joint naval exercises.

SEVASTOPOL, the Crimea, 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 after Turkey, Bulgaria,
Georgia, Russia, Romania and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on
April 2, 2001. All the BLACKSEAFOR states had ratified the agreement by
2002. This is the only naval task group formed according to a territorial
principle. One warship from each member country participates in the
BLACKSEAFOR exercises every year.
The airborne ship YAMAL will represent Russia this year.
"The big airborne ship Yamal will participate in the exercises, that
will last until August 30, from the Russian side under the commander of
Captain 2nd rank Alexander Kononenko. The ships will gather in the
Romanian port of Constanta where the BLACKSEAFOR command will be handed
over to a Romanian Navy representative," the BLACKSEAFOR information group
reports.
The ships of this naval group 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 fact that naval ships from several countries are taking part in
this project makes it innovative. BLACKSEAFORE has peaceful goals. Its
ships can join the United Nations and the OSCE operations as well as other
international actions. The group consists of six ships of various types.
Countries members of the BLACKSEAFOR take turns in taking the group's
command every year. Turkey commanded the BLACKSEAFOR in 2001, Ukraine in
2002, Bulgaria in 2003, Georgia in 2004, Romania in 2005 and Russia in
2006. Turkey and Bulgaria took over the command again, in 2007 and in
April 2010, respectively.
The BLACKSEAFOR holds exercises twice a year: in April and in August.