US to present New Black Sea strategy to Azerbaijan

The US commissioned Turkey the main role in New Black Sea strategy, APA reports.

Though the US officials stated several times that Bucharest will be the main bulwark of the US in the Black Sea, Romania is not in the first plan.

The US plan envisages coastal countries' approving security problems and supporting Turkey's efforts to be geostrategic power in the region, as Washington and Ankara's interests mainly coincide.

"We can not achieve results without Turkey," said high ranking Pentagon official and added that the new strategy will be presented to Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Ukraine and Greece.

The US called the coastal states to be active in the security program "Black Sea Harmony" coordinated by Turkey. Exchange of confidential information on sea transport will be realized in the framework of this program.

Russia joined the program in 2006, Romania and Ukraine are close to join it. But Pentagon stated that they do not expect Russia’s cooperation.

"They regard this initiative as interference in the sphere of influence," they said.

Moscow expressed negative position on the European Union’s new plan on cooperation and security in the Black Sea in June last year.