Russia transferred 235 millions rubles to Ukraine for Fleet
235 millions rubles from Russian budget will be spent on financing of social development programs in Ukrainian settlements, where military units of Black Sea Fleet are located. This sum also includes refund of charges from local budgets, connected with realization of Black Sea Fleet servicemen`s and members` of their family equal with Ukrainian citizens right for education in local educational institutions, health protection and other social services.
First part of payment - 160 millions rubles - has been already transferred to Ukrainian accounts. The remaining part will be transferred in first half of 2006.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Victor Yushenko confirmed the fact that Kiev plans to review rent for Black Sea presence in Crimea.
By words of Ukrainian president, the matter concerns not only payment for presence of military fleet but for transportation and use of Ukrainian infrastructure. "We must transfer all economic relationships with all countries on rational and pragmatic base", - emphasized the president. "Our economic relationships must meet with standards - world, European. And when the matter concerns the rent of temporary Black Sea presence, we must have the analogous approach", - said Yushenko.
Situation with Black Sea Fleet presence in Crimea becomes strained periodically and is an excellent mean of political pressure on Moscow from Kiev. As a reminder, Russian Fleet is located in Sevastopol according to treaty between Russia and Ukraine, concluded in 1997. Term of current agreement will expire in 2017.