site.btaRussia Extends Black Sea Warning Area Notification by 10 Days - Bulgarian Defence Minister

Russia has extended by ten days a notification establishing a temporary warning area in the Black Sea, which includes parts of Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, on account of conducting military exercises, Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said in an interview on Nova TV Saturday evening.

The notification was initially made on July 18 for ten days and that period expired on Friday, Tagarev said, adding that Russia's intentions are unknown and the matter "warrants closer scrutiny".

"Such notifications and restrictions should not be applied to help Russia block grain shipments from the Ukrainian ports. This is unacceptable," the Defence Minister said further, adding that seaspace transport and navigation are regulated under other regimes.

Tagarev pointed out that Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone is not subject to restrictions on merchant shipping or on other countries' naval action. He explained that when countries conduct exercises involving ships or coastal firing, they usually make a notification restricting a definite section of seaspace for a definite period of time, warning that these waters will be dangerous for shipping. 

Asked whether the Bulgarian authorities, if requested to do so, will assist Ukrainian vessels to use Bulgarian territorial waters for transporting Ukrainian grain, the Defence Minister answered that such transport should also pass through Romanian and Turkish territorial waters.

"If such a request is received, we will discuss it with our allies which are adjacent Black Sea territories, and if the risks are found to be greater, with our NATO allies, too," Tagarev said on Nova TV.

On July 27, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry told BTA that "there is no reason for concern" and that "the [Russian] exercise will be conducted away from Bulgaria's territorial waters".

On July 26, NATO issued a press release saying that "Russia's new warning area in the Black Sea, within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, has created new risks for miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation." Approached by BTA for comment, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said that while "these actions by Russia do not constitute formal violation of the international rules, they are not considered good practice and Bulgaria and its allies continue their regular surveillance activity in the NATO area of responsibility in keeping with the decision of the Alliance".