"We support the Turkish initiative to conduct the Black Sea Harmony operation, and we have finalized internal procedures that will allow our country to play a full role," Putin told a news conference after talks with the Turkish president in the Kremlin.
In March 2004, Turkey proposed Black Sea Harmony as a move to increase shipping security along the Black Sea coast and track suspicious ships. However, some countries consider it an attempt to maintain Turkey's dominance in the area by preventing NATO from extending its Operation Active Endeavor, which has similar objectives in the Mediterranean, into the Black Sea.
During 16 month of the operation, the Turkish navy has stopped 12,000 vessels for inspection and conducted 195 security-related visits to ports.
Turkey has recently invited other littoral states, including Russia and Ukraine, to participate in Black Sea Harmony.
