IZMIR - A NATO Southern Region mine countermeasures exercise named Damsel Fair-2004 which was planned by the NATO Southern Europe Allied Naval Forces Command (COMNAVSOUTH) has started in Kusadasi Bay, off the coast of Turkey on Thursday.
NATO Southern Region Press and Public Relations Director Commander Harvey Burwin told a press conference aboard flag ship Its Alpino of Italy that the exercise would take place in Kusdasi Bay, off the coast of Turkey between May 20-28.
Noting that Damsel Fair-2004 aimed at exercising all aspects of mine-warfare planning, execution and analysis, Burwin said that mine counter measure vessels, minelayers, patrol boats and diver support vessels from Turkey, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, France and the United States would participate in the exercise.
Burwin said that the exercise would be coordinated and controlled by the NATO Headquarters responsible for the Maritime Operations in the Southern Region (NAVSOUTH) and almost one thousand personnel would participate in the exercise.
(MS-AÖ) 20.05.2004