Published January 11,2024
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Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania on Thursday signed an settlement to collectively deal with the mine risk within the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine War.
Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar, and Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov joined the signing ceremony in Istanbul, the Turkish National Defense Ministry introduced on X.
“We are signing the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group Agreement (MCM Black Sea) within the framework of the Triple Initiative, initiated under the leadership of our country to address the mine threat in the Black Sea,” Güler stated in the course of the ceremony.
“With the aim of enhancing our existing close collaboration and coordination for a more effective struggle against the mine threat in the Black Sea, we have jointly decided to establish a protocol among the three countries.”
Türkiye expresses nice satisfaction in internet hosting the signing ceremony of this settlement that can contribute to “regional security” and “stability” within the Black Sea, he stated.
Türkiye fastidiously, responsibly, and impartially applies the Montreux Convention, which is essential for sustaining the stability within the Black Sea and is of nice significance for the safety of the area, Güler stated.
“Following the proposal we presented to our allies Romania and Bulgaria, we embraced a strategic vision,” he stated.
“Within this framework, we reached an agreement to establish a Mine Countermeasures Task Group against the drifting mine threat in the Black Sea,” the Turkish protection minister stated.
The cooperation to be established with the Memorandum of Understanding will make “significant” contributions to the protection of navigation within the Black Sea, Güler stated.
NATO WELCOMES MCM BLACK SEA
NATO welcomed the MCM Black Sea for demining the Black Sea on Thursday.
“We welcome that Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye are working together against the threat of mines in the Black Sea,” NATO spokesperson Dylan White stated on X.
“This is an important contribution toward greater freedom of navigation and food security in the region and beyond,” he added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr