MARMARIS - Search and rescue maneuver ''Reliant Mermaid-VI'' which will be jointly exercised by naval and air force elements of Turkey, the United States and Israel in the international waters of Eastern Mediterranean will start on Wednesday.
Commodore Captain Sems Aktug who held a press conference on Tuesday said that maneuver would focus on port training between August 11 and 15, and stated that search and rescue maneuver would be performed in the international waters of Eastern Mediterranean as of Wednesday morning.
Noting that Turkey would participate in the maneuver with two frigates, two coast guard boats, two helicopters and one search and rescue plane, and the United States and Israel were attending the maneuver with four vessels, five helicopters and two search and rescue planes, Aktug said that the maneuver aimed to extend humanitarian aid to two vessels which called for urgent help.
Aktug said that the maneuver which would start at 6 a.m. on Wednesday would also continue at night, and stated that vessels which participated in the maneuver would return to Aksaz Naval Command at around 9 a.m. on Thursday.
He added that Egyptian, Israeli, U.S. and Jordanian military officials would participate in the maneuver as observers.
(EÖ-MS) 12.08.2003