STORY: Türkiye, Romania, Bulgaria sign deal to clear mines in Black Sea
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 11, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 12, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:10
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: MILITARY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria signing deal
2. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): YASAR GULER, Turkish Defense Minister
3. various of Black Sea-related footage

STORYLINE:

Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria signed Thursday a memorandum of understanding on a joint plan to address the threat of floating mines in the Black Sea.
   
The deal was signed by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar, and Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov in Istanbul.
   
At the signing ceremony, Guler said under the agreement, the three countries' navies will form a Mine Countermeasures Task Group to clear the explosives that threaten security and stability in the Black Sea.
   
Guler highlighted the mine threat as a consequence of the Ukraine-Russia crisis that erupted in February 2022. He emphasized the joint efforts of the three countries' delegations, which began in September 2023, to swiftly tackle this issue.

SOUNDBITE (Turkish): YASAR GULER, Turkish Defense Minister  
"Protecting the shipping in the sea area from the security risks posed by the war has become a matter of common concern for the littoral allies."
   
As per the deal, the three countries will deploy three minehunters and a command and control ship for continuous duty in the Black Sea. A committee consisting of naval commanders from the three allies will oversee the operation.
   
The initiative is limited to the ships of the three allies for now, Guler said but noted that contributions from other Black Sea littoral states would be accepted in agreed-upon and specific areas when conditions permit. 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)