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Black Sea Fleet Decommissioned to Russia’s Coast
Under a special memorandum on the RF Black Sea Fleet’s wind-up by May 28, 2017, Russia is to elaborate the plan for pulling out its sailors and vessels from Ukraine already in 2009. Ukraine presses for signing the document, while in the RF Foreign Ministry, they don’t hurry to do it, proposing to revive the issue in nine years.
Kiev hasn’t abandoned the intention to win from Moscow firm guarantees for the Black Sea Fleet’s withdrawal from Ukraine by May 28, 2017, when the agreement on the fleet’s deployment there finally expires. It looks like Ukraine is determined to proceed to the preparation for the long-awaited date already now, at least the diplomats from Ukrainian foreign ministry have elaborated and handed over to Russia’s counterparts a special memorandum specifying the procedures and stages to withdraw the RF Black Sea Fleet from the sites of its temporarily deployment in Ukraine.
The proposal of Ukraine is to set to negotiations on the practical implementation of the fleet’s wind-up. The result of the talks is clear to Ukraine already. It is making out an interstate protocol with the schedule of the Black Sea Fleet’s withdrawal. That protocol is to be signed by the end of 2009, according to Ukrainian masterminds of the draft.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vladimir Ogryzko handed over the memorandum to his Russia’s counterpart Sergei Lavrov far back in April, during his visit to Moscow. The emergence of the document and its tone signal that Ukraine has no questions concerning the end of the RF Black Sea Fleet’s deployment.
Moscow, however, is in no hurry. Indeed, the signed document would predetermine destiny of the Black Sea Fleet. Russia’s diplomats don’t intend even to deliberate on the memorandum, let alone sign it. “We have much time till 2017. Speaking about the Black Sea Fleet’s withdrawal is premature. Let’s talk about it in nine years,” said a source with the RF Foreign Ministry, who is familiar with the progress in negotiations.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 28, 2008
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