  NATO ships leaving Black SeaSeptember 10, 2008 - 20:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG 1) successfully completed its planned visit and is leaving the Black Sea today in accordance with the Montreux Convention which limits Black Sea naval deployments to twenty-one days for non-Black Sea navies. SNMG 1 will operate in the Mediterranean following its departure from the Black Sea, NATO press office told PanARMENIAN.NetAs part of its annual program, SNMG 1 was deployed to the Black Sea on 21 August 2008 with the aim of promoting interoperability among NATO nations. Under command of Spanish Rear Admiral Juan Rodriguez Garat it conducted routine port visits and naval exercises with Bulgaria and Romania, both members of the NATO Alliance. SNMG 1 is comprised of the Spanish frigate, Adm Juan de Borbon, the German frigate, FGS Lubeck, the US frigate, USS Taylor and the Polish frigate, ORP General K Pulaski. Vice-Admiral Pim Bedet, Deputy Commander Allied Maritime Component Command Headquarters Northwood stated, "SNMG 1 was able to participate in a very successful visit to Romania and Bulgaria. In turn, this has contributed towards developing NATO's maritime interoperability with its member nations within the Black Sea and the exercises conducted there have reinforced NATO's maritime capability in this strategically important area of focus."   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Related sections Latest news Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia.Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |
