navy

Defense minister: Continued cooperation with U.S.

BELGRADE -- Serbian Ministry of Defense will continue to promote defense cooperation with the U.S. army, including joint military exercises and training of troops.

This was announced on Wednesday by Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić.

BELGRADE - Serbian Ministry of Defense will continue to promote defense cooperation with the U.S. army, including joint military exercises and training of troops, Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said Wednesday.

Italy's navy said it rescued nearly 1,800 migrants in overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean over the weekend, and a merchant ship recovered five bodies from a sinking rubber raft off the coast of Libya.
   

Italy's armed forces chief warned Thursday that terrorists could be using migrant boats to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, amid increased concern among intelligence services of possible attacks by extremists.
      
"There's a risk not only of massive illegal immigration, but also of terrorist infiltrations," Luigi Binelli Mantelli told La Stampa.        

More than 2,600 migrants were rescued by the Italian navy this weekend, authorities said Monday, as police searched for new arrivals who landed by night on Sicily's southern coast.
      

Around 75 migrants are lost at sea in the Mediterranean according to survivors of a shipwreck off Italy who were plucked to safety by the navy, the UN refugee agency said Wednesday.
      
A group of 27 people rescued on Tuesday off Sicily reported that there another 75 people on board their boat, who are therefore believed lost at sea, the agency said in a statement.

Vice-Admiral Rumen Nikolov has become Chief of Defense of the Bulgarian Army on Monday after taking the office from Gen Simeon Simeonov.

At a ceremony Nikolov, who was previously Commander of the Navy, assumed the position of Chief of Defense after his predecessor's term has expired.

Defense Minister Angel Naydenov attended the event which was held at 11:00 EEST (09:00 GMT).

Defense procurement authorities are preparing to issue a Request for Proposal (RfP) for the acquisition of indigenous fast attack craft that will cost around $800 million, according to sources, who say some of Turkey’s leading shipyards are expected to take part in bidding Turkey’s ambitious program for the acquisition of up to 10 indigenous fast attack craft (fast assault boats) may

Southeast Europe, Turkey criticise Russian moves in Ukraine

The annexation of Crimea has many worried about Russian ambition in Eastern Europe.

A woman walks past Russian soldiers patrolling outside the navy headquarters in Simferopol on Tuesday (March 18th). [AFP]

Pro-Russian activists detained Wednesday Ukraine's Navy Chief Serhiy Hayduk, short after taking control of the navy's HQ.

Russian website Lenta.ru, citing Kriminform news agency, explains that Hayduk had ordered "the use of weapons against civilians".

Ukraine's army has not confirmed that he issued such an instruction.