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Russia Gets Permission to Base its Fleet in Ukraine

30 March, 00:00

On March 24 Verkhovna Rada ratified with almost 250 votes a package of Black Sea accords: On Mutual Payments Related to Sharing the Black Sea Fleet and Stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine, On the Status and Conditions of Stationing of the Russian BSF in Ukraine, and On the Parameters for Dividing the BSF. These accords were signed by the premiers of Ukraine and Russia on May 29, 1997.

The documents determine that Russia will lease from Ukraine the former USSR Black Sea Fleet base and infrastructure for a 20-year term, with a possible 5-year prolongation of the lease as may be agreed by the parties to the agreement. The lease price is $97,750,000 per year, which will be recorded in payment of Ukraine's state debt to Russia.

Fleet personnel may not exceed 25,000, (currently the Russian BSF has 16,000).

After approving the Black Sea Accords, it is necessary to conclude about thirty international and interdepartmental agreements which are supposed to define the mechanism to implement the provisions of the basic documents.

Newspaper output №:

№12, (1999)

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