MOSCOW, August 31 (AVN) - The decision on what legal status will be given to the operative naval unit established by Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey in the framework of the Blackseafor project, will be taken in talks in Istanbul in September, a spokesman the Russian Navy Staff told the Military News Agency.
According to him, this is the last unsettled issue of the unit that is set for collaborative rescue, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, for searching and eliminating of mines in the Black Sea.
The forming of the unit that will comprise combat ships of all the countries-participants of the Blackseafor can begin already in 2000. The preparation work started back in 1998 after the proposal of the Turkish Naval Command. According to the Agency's data, Turkey was initially proposing to enlarge the membership of the Blackseafor by the Mediterranean countries, but Russia refused. The practical questions were solved during consultations of political and military experts of the Black Sea countries. A total of nine such meetings were held.