GEORGIA IS HOSTING THE US COAST GUARD SHIP
USCGC HAMILTON (WMSL 753) has entered the Batumi Port. The Director of the Coast Guard Department, CAPT Ramaz Papidze, and the Chairman of the Government of Adjara, Tornike Rijvadze hosted the U.S. delegation. This is reported by the administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
The ship's visit serves to strengthen the security cooperation between the United States and Georgia, promote regional peace and stability, and emphasize the importance of the Black Sea for Euro-Atlantic security.
It is the first time the USCGC HAMILTON visited Georgia. The Coast Guard Department of the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is hosting the ship in the territorial waters of Georgia.
Before entering the Batumi Port, the USCGC HAMILTON and the Georgian Coast Guard ships DIOSCURIA and OCHAMCHIRE took part in joint naval exercises. The exercise included naval tactical manoeuvres, search-and-rescue procedures, and other training elements using the USCGC helicopter. Joint training helps to increase interoperability between the U.S. and Georgian Coast Guard units.
In the framework of the visit, the Head of the Coast Guard Department, CAPT Ramaz Papidze will hold a meeting with the Commander of the ship, CAPT Tim Cronin at the Batumi Division. The crew members are scheduled to visit the Poti base of the Coast Guard Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Joint Maritime Operations Center (JMOC). American colleagues will host the Georgian delegation on the USCGC HAMILTON.
The US Coast Guard ship will leave the Batumi Port on May 6.
NATO-GEORGIA JOINT MARITIME TRAININGS IN BLACK SEA
Within the Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) port call to Georgia the NATO force conducted combined maritime trainings in the Black Sea with the Coast Guard Department under the MIA Border Police of Georgia.
SNMG2 ships - REGINA MARIA (Romania), KEMALREIS (Turkey) and SMELI (Bulgaria) conduct combined maritime exercise training with the Georgian Coast Guard vessels "Ochamchire" [P23] and "Dioskuria" [P25].
The aim of maritime exercises is to enhance interoperability and interaction between the Georgian and Allied forces.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this port visit is a visible demonstration of NATO’s continued commitment to Georgia. It is important that NATO port visits to Georgia's Black Sea ports are regular, which is one of the tangible results of NATO-Georgia cooperation in strengthening Black Sea security.
Joint training was held in full compliance with the recommendations of the Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Source: https://police.ge/en/shav-zghvashi-nato-saqartvelos-ertoblivi-sazghvao-tsvrtnebi-chatarda/14477
THE GCG OF MIA BORDER POLICE HOSTING NATO VESSELS
The Georgian Coast Guard of MIA Border Police is hosting Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) in the territorial waters of Georgia. SNMG2 includes: CRISTOBAL COLON - FLAGSHIP (Spain), REGINA MARIA (Romania), KEMALREIS (Turkey) and SMELI (Bulgaria). The Maritime Group is led by Rear Admiral Manuel Aguirre Alderegua, Commander of NATO’s SNMG2.
The port call aims to enhance interoperability between Georgia, NATO and the Alliance’s partner nations’ naval forces.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this port visit is a visible demonstration of NATO’s continued commitment to Georgia. It is important that NATO port visits to Georgia's Black Sea ports are regular, which is one of the tangible results of NATO-Georgia cooperation in strengthening Black Sea security.
The visit is being held in full compliance with the recommendations of the Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The meetings are to be held through VTC and combined exercises will only include ship manoeuvres without crew interactions in order to prevent the possible spread of the new coronavirus.
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO will leave the territorial waters of Georgia on March 18, after the completion of a joint training with the GCG.
Frontex renews working arrangement with Georgia
Today, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, renewed its working arrangement with the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Under the revised arrangement, Frontex and Georgia reaffirmed their commitment to work together in dealing with irregular migration and fighting cross-border crime, implementation of technical assistance projects as well as in exchanging information and best practices in the area of border management and return.
“It was in 2008 – more than a decade ago - that the first Working Arrangement between Frontex and the Georgian authorities was signed. I am confident that the new framework for cooperation will allow us to achieve further progress towards securing borders and addressing common challenges, which call for a coordinated response,” said Frontex’s Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
The working arrangement was renewed to reflect the strengthened mandate of Frontex and will lead to a better response to today’s operational needs in the area of border management in full respect of fundamental rights.
Hundreds of Georgian experts have taken part in Frontex-led trainings and capacity building activities such as the Eastern Partnership IBM Capacity Building Project as well as participated in Frontex operational activities as observers.
“I am glad that the working arrangement signed today will serve as a firm legal basis for our future successful cooperation, the positive result of which goes beyond the existing relations of the two agencies and represents an important phase in Georgia-EU cooperation”, said Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri.
The document was signed during a virtual ceremony by Frontex’s Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri and Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri. The virtual ceremony was also attended by the Director General of DG HOME Monique Pariat, Acting Director-General of DG NEAR Maciej Popowski and Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia H.E. Carl Hartzell.
Press Release of the EU Delegation to Georgia
USS Donald Cook entered the Territorial Waters of Georgia
The Coast Guard Department of the Border Police under the Ministry of Internal Affairs is hosting USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) in the territorial waters of Georgia. The ship was greeted by the Director of the Coast Guard Department, CAPT Ramaz Papidze and representatives of the same department.
The visit serves to highlight the continued maritime cooperation between the U.S. and Georgia to promote regional peace and stability.
The visit is held in line with the recommendations from the World Health Organization and the National Center for Disease Control. In order to prevent the possible spread of the COVID-19, the meetings are to be held remotely, through VTC.
Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer "Donald Cook" is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. U.S. 6th Fleet conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
"Donald Cook" will leave the territorial waters of Georgia tomorrow, February 6, after the completion of a joint training with the GCG.
The USS Ross Visits Batumi Port
The United States Ship (USS) Ross (DDG 71) arrives in Batumi for a port visit on April 21. The visit serves to highlight the continued cooperation between the U.S. and Georgia by promoting regional peace and stability. This will be the ship’s first visit to Georgia.
USS Ross is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy. The ship is capable of conducting exercises and operations in areas such as anti-submarine warfare and ballistic missile defense. While on patrol, the USS Ross will engage with NATO Allies and partners to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties, and to promote peace and stability in the region.
The port visit also provides American sailors an opportunity to explore local historical sites and build lasting partnerships with their Georgian Coast Guard counterparts. In addition to tours of the ship, sailors from the USS Ross will play a friendly soccer match with the Georgian Coast Guard, a basketball game with Maritime Academy students, and will meet with local youth at American Corner in Batumi.
“Our allies in the Black Sea continue to play a key role in maintaining security in the European theater,” CDR Dave Coles, commanding officer of Ross, said. “The crew and I look forward to enhancing our interoperability in a dynamic environment as well as experiencing the rich history and culture in this region.”
The U.S. Navy routinely operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law.
The USS Ross is commanded by CDR David Coles. The ship’s dimensions are as follows: length 505 ft (154 m), beam 66ft (20m), draft 31ft (9.4m).
The USS Ross, forward-deployed at Naval Station Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.
