SEVASTOPOL, April 24 (AVN) - The importance of co-operation between naval forces of the Black Sea states by far exceeds the limits of the military sphere, Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov, Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander, said on Monday.
Komoyedov was speaking after he returned from a meeting of the Black Sea naval forces commanders in Istanbul.
The naval chiefs were not authorised to sign any agreements at the meeting, Komoyedov told the Military News Agency. Instead, they exchanged opinions and worked out common approaches to important problems of the region, he added.
Among the issues discussed by the naval chiefs are establishment of a Black Sea naval operative interaction group, development of relations between the Black Sea fleets in the hydrographic sphere, co-operation in protection of the coastal zone and search and rescue of ships in distress, Komoyedov said.
The admirals also considered formation of a unified information system for Black Sea fleets, prospects of control over navigation, co-ordination of efforts for normal functioning of emerging oil transportation routes, and controls over cargo flows.