Sahil Güvenlik Komutanlığı

The Meetings of the Leaders of the Black Sea Littoral States Border/Coast Guard Agencies began with the initiative and under the leadership of Turkey in 2000 with the participation of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation and Ukraine.

“The Black Sea Cooperation Forum (BCSF)” was established following the agreement signed in the framework of the decision taken during the 7th Meeting of the Leaders of the Black Sea Littoral States Border/Coast Guard Agencies in Istanbul on November 07–09, 2006.

Some of the goals of the BSCF are;

• To develop peace and stability in the Black Sea among the Black Sea Littoral States on the basis of mutual trust and security,

• To develop the existing cooperation between the Border/Coast Guard Authorities of the parties in order to prevent flow of narcotics, psychotropic substances and their derivatives, ammunition, explosives, poisonous and heavy illicit radioactive substances,petroleum smuggling, illegal migration, terrorist operations and other illegal activities while fostering safety and security of the navigation in the Black Sea,

• To establish cooperation in order to protect the natural resources of the Black Sea, prevent marine pollution, the violation of laws on fisheries and to increase the effectiveness of search and rescue activities by close coordination and cooperation.

Following activities are conducted annually among the Littoral States in the scope of the BSCF Agreement:

• Visits between units, headquarters and institutions,

• Joint Commission Meetings,

• Assignment of observers to the exercises,

• Training the personnel of the corresponding Coast Guard Agencies in the affiliated education and Training units of Turkish Coast Guard Command,

• Exchange of units and personnel,

• Port visits by coast guard boats,

The term of presidency of the BSCF is held by the Russian Federation since October 2010, which will be transferred to Turkey with the "12th Black Sea Littoral States Border/Coast Guard Agencies Cooperation Forum Annual Leaders Meeting" planned to be carried out in Antalya between 29th November - 02 December 2011.

Bilateral Relations

In addition to the Black Sea Cooperation Forum of Black Sea Littoral States Border/Coast Guard Agencies, Turkish Coast Guard Command conduct bilateral meetings/cooperation activities with the Border/Coast Guard Agencies of Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Syria, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkmenistan, UAE, Ukraine, USA and Yemen with the aim of exchanging information and experience in the field of coast guard.

Some of the activities conducted under this scope are as follows:

• Visits between units, headquarters and institutions,

• Assignment of observers to the exercises,

• Training the personnel of the corresponding Coast Guard Agencies in the affiliated education and training units of Turkish Coast Guard Command,

• Exchange of units and personnel,

• Port visits by coast guard boats,

• In-place training support, on-the-job training in units, headquarters and institutions.