PROTESTS MAR FIRST DAY OF SEA BREEZE-2008 EXERCISE IN UKRAINE’S ODESA
Interfax News Agency
July 14 2008
Russia
ODESA July 14
Some 50 supporters of the Ukrainian Progressive Socialist Party are
marching in the streets of the see-side city of Odessa in protest
against the holding of the international Sea Breeze-2008 exercise
with Western powers.
The majority of protesters are elderly females. Another 200 more
are expected to join the protest at 10 a.m. Moscow time, head of the
Anti-NATO Defense Headquarters Valery Kaurov said.
The Anti-NATO Defense Headquarters reportedly organized an anti-NATO
naval raid on the day leading to the exercise, with over ten cutters
and yachts taking part. The ships sailed along the Odesa shoreline
sporting anti-NATO signs.
It was reported earlier that Odesa will host the Sea Breeze-2008
international exercise on July 14 – 26. The active stage of the
exercise is scheduled to take part on the territory of the Odesa and
Mykolaiv regions and the Crimea.
It is expected that over 1,000 servicemen, as well as up to 15
vessels, two submarines, up to four transport and patrol aircraft,
and up to four helicopters, from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Macedonia, Turkey,
Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States will take part in
the exercise.