The activation of the Group of Navy Cooperation in the Black Sea (BLACKSEAFOR BSK) will occur between July 30 and August 21, 2007.

Parts of the Group are: Smell corvette (Bulgaria) and Contraamiral Horia Macellariu corvette (Romania), Azov assault ship (Russian Federation), Kemal Rheis frigate (Turkey) and Slavutich command ship (Ukraine).

The program of this activation comprises the visits in Golciuc Bay (Turkey), Varna (Bulgaria) and Constanta (Romania) and different locations where the BLACKSEAFOR objectives will be mentioned for the public. Thus, during the station in the above mentioned bays, they will meet the military and civilian officials; will have press conferences, social activities and visits on board of the ships.

On the sea, according to the scenarios, they will perform the search and rescue, mission, common defense against air strikes and ships, fight against mines, inspections of suspect ships, reconnaissance and report of the naval situation, interrogation of trade ships to identify them and maritime interdiction missions.

On August 6, in Golcuc naval base (Turkey) there will occur a ceremony of change of command of the Group between the representatives of the Russian Federation and Turkey and between August 17 and 21, the BLACKSERAFOR ships will visit Constanta Bay.

Monday, July 30, at 10 a.m. Contraamiral Horia Macellariu corvette will leave the Mangalia military bay for Golciuc.



The BLACKSEAFOR Group is conceived as a force to act at request and activated twice per year to develop naval common exercises. The command of the group is ensured accrding to the protocol, by each of the Black Sea six states participating with forces: Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Turkey. The Russian Federation appointed Commander Mikhail Sukhval to lead the Group on the sea and in the bays to be visited.
Contraamiral Horia Macellariu corvette on board with 100 military and 16 officers is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Liviu Motoc.
Details can be accessed on www. blackseafor.org/

MoD Press Office