March 4, 2009 - 18:10 AMT
Turkish navy planning to open new base on Black Sea shore
Turkish Naval Forces are planning to establish a new military base in the country's Black Sea province of Trabzon, Hurriyet daily reported on Wednesday.

The planned military base will be the second on the country's Black Sea coast.

Hurriyet said the Turkish military confirmed that works are underway in Trabzon for the planning of a logistics base. The construction of the base will start with routine appointments in summer, the report added.

The story came weeks after media reports suggested that the U.S. may look at setting up a military base in Trabzon as an alternative to the Manas base in Kyrgyzstan which is due to close later this year.

The Turkish army said last month that the U.S. has not knocked on the country's door regarding the establishment of a base on the Black Sea coast after the closure decision of the Kyrgyzstan base that is key for Afghanistan operations.