People’s Deputy, the Party of Regions parliamentary faction member, Minister of Defense of the Opposition government Oleksandr Kuzmuk stated the following during a briefing devoted to the Party of Regions position concerning the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine’s resolution about the procedure of crossing the frontier by the ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet:

- Let me dwell on the issues about the content and consequences of the President’s decree and the government’s resolution which cover the terms and regulation of crossing Ukraine’s frontier by the Black Sea Fleet ships.

I want to remind that the basing of the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Federation in Ukraine’s territory is stipulated in the following laws and agreements signed on behalf of the Ukrainian people.

Firstly, it is the Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation as of May 31, 1997. Secondly, it is the Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation about the status and terms of the basing of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in Ukraine’s territory. By the way, yesterday was some kind of the anniversary – 11 years since the day of concluding this agreement. There are also other documents which regulate the basing of the Black Sea Fleet in our territory.

I would like to underline that the basing of the Black Sea Fleet is of temporal nature. It is declared, ratified and signed in mutual Ukrainian-Russian agreements. In particular, the Fleet’s basing is set down in Article 15 of the main agreement which stated that the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation functions in complete accordance to Ukraine’s national legislation. The agreement envisaged the order of basing, the procedure of leaving of marine and air vehicles, and also waterside troops of the Black Sea Fleet and their movement across Ukraine and beyond. The Government’s Decree as of May 19, 1999 #863 made some alterations to the agreement, and the procedure of Ukraine’s control over withdrawal of divisions or ships had, let me put it so, a liberal order. It was executed on the basis of mutual agreements.

It is well known that the agreement was concluded for 20 years – until 2017. I would like to mention that over 20 years various changes of both geopolitical and geostrategical pattern, as well as changes in home policy of the countries-parties to the agreement, may occur. However, both at that time and thereafter anybody has not even thought of excluding the Black Sea Fleet from the general system of the Russian Federation’s security or expelling it from the plans of using the RF Military Forces. But today's decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has been of a permit type regarding the use of the Black Sea Fleet for the first time since concluding the agreement.

Definitely, such a burning subject as the fleet’s basing in Ukraine’s territory should be discussed, specified and agreed by the Ukrainian and Russian sides in due time. Life goes on, and it is extremely difficult to foresee everything for 20 years ahead.

Although, the inactivity of the relevant bodies, primarily – of the Ukrainian-Russian commission and sub-commission headed by the ministers of defense of Ukraine and Russia, is astonishing. Their members should timely summon, discuss and provide concerted suggestions for the decision-makers. If it is necessary for them to make alterations to the agreement content, which should be ratified by national parliaments. Certainly, such work should be under way over the years. I wish it were so.

The President’s decree and the government’s resolutions were out at such difficult time, when the Northern Caucasus was in fire just a few days ago. It raises thoughts about respective focus of these documents on the other party to the agreement – the Russian Federation. It also disturbs the whole Ukrainian society.

Such documents of one-sided character could lead to complication of relationship with our strategic partner – Russia, could cast a shade on our state as on a reliable partner, could entail that many other agreements, in particular concerning military-technical cooperation, will be either not fulfilled or cancelled.

Therefore, to conclude I would like to mention that definitely the issue of the Black Sea Fleet’s basing in Ukraine’s territory should fully correspond to the Ukrainian legislation, and it should not be a point of aggravating relations with our neighbor and strategic partner – the Russian Federation.

The Party of Regions Press Service