Romanian-Turkish memorandum on Black Sea cooperation

AGERPRES National News Agency (Romania)

April 3, 2009, Bucharest

The Romanian Foreign Ministry on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Romanian and Turkish governments, as regards Romania’s participation in the Black Sea Harmony operation.

‘Romanian hopes to boost, through this initiative, the regional cooperation in the Black Sea area,’ reads a ForMin release.

Black Sea Harmony is a naval operation initiated by Turkey in March 2004 in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1373, 1540 and 1566 aimed at deterring terrorism and asymmetric threats worldwide. It has become affiliated with the NATO-led Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean regarding information and intelligence sharing as well as suspect vessel shadowing and interdiction.

It consists of regular patrols with frigates and patrol boats in pre-defined surveillance areas in the Black sea. Helicopters, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, and the coast guard vessels assist this activity.

Ukraine and the Russian Federation are also part of the BSH.