NATO-SPONSORED EXERCISE UNDERWAY IN THE BLACK SEA.

The naval exercise Cooperative Partner 98 began yesterday in Romanian territorial waters and in international waters of the northwestern Black Sea. Held in the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, the exercise involves some thirty-five warships, aircraft and troops of the United States, Germany, Turkey and several other NATO member and partner countries. Russian forces are not participating.

Ukraine participates with its landing ship Kostyantin Olshansky, the corvette Lutsk and a platoon of marine infantry. Two ships of Georgia’s nascent navy will also take part. The fourteen-day exercise rehearses both peacekeeping and combat operations, including: convoying, embargo enforcement, combined seaborne and airborne landings, defense against air attack, antisubmarine warfare, minesweeping and electronic communications between NATO and partner countries’ forces. (Ukrainian agencies, June 12 and 15)

ZHIRINOVSKY’S REPRESENTATIVE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.