YŞ: Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria have decided to create a mine action group in the Black Sea
Today in Istanbul, the Ministries of Defense of Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania signed an agreement on the establishment of a Task Force on Mine Action in the Black Sea, YŞ reports. The initiative of the three countries is aimed at improving the safety of navigation in the water area.
Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement on joint measures against the mine danger in the Black Sea. The signing ceremony of the memorandum on the establishment of the Black Sea Joint Mine Action Group (MSM Black Sea) took place on Thursday, January 11, in Istanbul. Among the details of the agreement are measures such as holding events involving mine protection ships from each country and a command and control ship, as well as operations at least twice a half–year for 15 days.
On Thursday, January 11, in Istanbul, the defense ministries of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria signed a memorandum on the establishment of a Task Force on Mine Action in the Black Sea, involving the adoption of joint steps against the mine danger in the region. Turkey acted as the host country of this event, contributing to regional security and stability in the Black Sea. The document, signed with the participation of Turkish Minister of National Defense Yashar Guler, Romanian Minister of Defense Angel Tilvar and Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov, is aimed at promoting the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
On the eve of the signing ceremony, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense issued a statement saying: "After the military conflict that began in Ukraine in February 2022, the Black Sea states also began to experience its influence. The Hague Convention of 1907 prohibits the use of naval mines that do not automatically become harmless one hour after they are separated from mooring equipment for one reason or another. However, in the case of drifting mines, there are no conclusions as to whether their explosive mechanisms will be deactivated."
Since March 26, 2022, the command of the Turkish Naval Forces has been conducting continuous mine reconnaissance activities using maritime patrol aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, Tuzla-class patrol ships, mine hunter ships, rapid response boats, coastal surveillance radars and electro–optical systems, the statement says. "Thanks to the efforts initiated under the leadership of our esteemed president, an agreement was reached with Romania and Bulgaria to establish a Task Force on Mine Action against the threat of Drifting Mines in the Black Sea, and negotiations at the level of technical delegations began last September," the military department reported.
"The three countries will continue to work to make the Black Sea a safe region again"
The Mine Action Task Force is not being created against any country or structure or as an alternative to such and is intended solely for defensive purposes, the ministry stressed. "Issues such as the creation of a committee with the participation of the commanders of the naval forces of the parties as the executive body of the initiative and holding meetings at least twice a year, the implementation of the command of the initiative alternately for a period of six months, the appointment of commanders of responsible formations and fleets from the country that will take command, the formation of an initiative from mine action ships protection from each country (three in total) and the command and control ship, conducting operations at least twice a year for 15 days, preparing an annual plan of operations, including operational training activities, exercises, port visits and other issues. By implementing the MCM BLACK SEA initiative, the three coastal NATO allies will continue to work to make the Black Sea a safe region again. Following the signing ceremony of the memorandum and its passage through the domestic legal procedures of all three countries, it is planned to start the work of the task force. The cooperation secured by the memorandum, which will be signed on January 11, 2024, will make a great contribution to the safety of navigation in the Black Sea and protection from sea mines," the statement said.