The Black Sea Fleet controversy has strengthened between Russia and Ukraine after the Georgia-South Ossetia conflict. Ukraine is seeking for levers of political and economic influence to limit the ability of the Russian fleet to maneuver. Moscow does not rule out its readiness to start negotiations on the issue
According to the information Expert Online is in possession of, Russia’s Black sea fleet vessels that had left for Georgian territorial waters to assist the unrecognized republics were expected to return to the harbors of Sebastopol one of these days. However, only the Yeisk subchaser has returned to its permanent location. This has given grounds for Ukrainian authorities to talk of serious damages that the Russian fleet had allegedly received from the Georgians. Russia’s military has denied the information.
Nevertheless, even without that Russia experiences enough problems with Ukraine. The very opportunity of returning to Sebastopol is at question for the Russian combat vessels. Immediately after the conflict broke out, Ukraine decided to support its pro-western ally Georgia. On August 13, President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree considerably limiting the ability of Russia’s Black Sea to maneuver. The decree prescribes Russia’s Black Sea fleet to inform Ukraine’s Military Commandment of its intentions 72 hours before the actual movement towards the border. The information has to contain data on the number of personnel as well as the quantity and the quality of a vessel’s munitions. If Russia violates the new schedule, Ukraine has the right to require that the ship(s) abandon the country’s territorial waters according to the norms of the UN convention on maritime legislation.
However, the decree has no retroactive force and Ukraine has no formal right to prevent the Russian ships from returning to the port, Sergei Shlapak, head of Yushenko’s secretariat has stated. Consultations between Russia and Ukraine are necessary to implement the new order, Arkadi Yatseniuk, Speaker of Ukraine’s Rada noted adding that he had mentioned the issue to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Vera Kholmogorova
Photo: flot.sevastopol.info
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