By Country / Russia
Ukraine FM: Moscow Violating Deal On Black Sea Fleet
November 15, 2005
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk (file photo) (epa)
accused Russia of violating an agreement that allows Moscow to base its
Black Sea Fleet in a Ukrainian port.
In an interview with the daily "Kyivskiye vedomosti," Tarasyuk said Russia was illegally claiming extra land around the port in Sevastopol.
He said Russia illegally occupies nearly 1.5 square kilometers of land that are not covered by the two countries' 1997 agreement, and is renting out some of the territory for commercial profit.
Russia and Ukraine divided up the Soviet Black Sea fleet after years of contentious debate following the 1991 Soviet collapse. According to the agreement, Russia is allowed to base its fleet at Sevastopol until 2017.
(www.kv.com.ua/ap)