10.08.2012
Text: Southern Military District Press Service
Photo: Southern Military District Press Service
Solemn command handover ceremony of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) took place today at Turkish Navy's main base Gölcük. A Turkish naval officer took over command from his Russian predecessor.
Agreement on setting up of BLACKSEAFOR was signed in Istanbul on Apr 2, 2001 by representatives of Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine.
All commanders of Black Sea regional navies attended the ceremony. Traditionally, national flags were hoisted during parade of participating crews, and national anthems were played.
At the ceremony, BLACKSEAFOR Commander Capt 1 Rank Yury Zemsky (Russia's Black Sea Fleet Deputy Chief of Staff) handed over a traditional saber made by Bulgarian craftsmen in 2003 to his successor Turkish Navy's Capt Hakan Güneş. Navy commanders of Black Sea states put their signatures on a special document certifying that BLACKSEAFOR command was handed over to the Turkish party.
Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Commander RADM Alexander Fedotenkov participated in the ceremony as well.
As is planned, the BLACKSEAFOR activation will finish in Novorossiysk in Aug 22-24 with the
Confidence-2012 joint exercise under direction of the Russian party.
