Russia opposes NATO Operation in Black Sea
Dated 30/4/2006
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Moscow: Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Masorin today said Russia was opposed to the spread of the NATO Operation 'Active Endeavor' to the Black Sea.
''Russia's stance is that we are ready to participate in 'Active Endeavor' in the Mediterranean but in the Black Sea only countries of the region should be involved and the maritime operation 'Black Sea Harmony' initiated by Turkey is aimed at that,'' Admiral Masorin told the Interfax-AVN agency.
Russia had nothing against foreign ships making friendly visits to the Black Sea. It is even not opposed to short exercises, he said.
''But we are strongly opposed to large-scale exercises and the permanent presence of ships of third countries, which are not litoral countries,'' he added.
He cited the 1936 Montreaux Convention that restricts the passage of the Turkish Straits by outside naval vessels and their stay in the Black Sea in class, displacement and duration of stay.
''We have excellent relations with the Turkish Navy Command but even we are not given any concessions as far as the fulfillment of the Montreaux Convention provisions is concerned,'' he noted.
He said formal matters remained to be settled to launch joint efforts in the framework of Operation Black Sea Harmony.
''Letters to be exchanged between the governments of the two countries are expected to be signed in the nearest future and after that Russian and Turkish ships can start joint missions in the Black Sea, he added.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday, at a Russia-NATO meeting in Bulgaria, warned NATO against deploying its forces in Eastern Europe near the Russian borders. He also said Moscow was against Ukraine and Georgia joining the NATO.
