KIEV, February 7 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine will not extend a contract on the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the country after 2017, a Ukrainian deputy foreign minister said Tuesday.
"We have a very good contract on the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea," Andrei Veselovskiy said. "All Russian politicians and presidents have praised it. There are no legal grounds for this valid document not to expire in 2017."
"It is certain that following this there will be no Russian armed forces, military or 'No Entry for Ukrainians' signs left in Ukraine's territory," he added.
Veselovskiy said Ukrainian authorities were now working on a program to adapt territories and facilities for new purposes that have up until now been leased by the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
"Military bases will not be destroyed. They are likely to be reequipped with a view to meeting the Crimea's social needs," he said.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said Tuesday that Russia was ready to take a constructive approach in resolving unsettled issues relating to the Black Sea Fleet's presence in Ukraine.
"The basic agreements on the Black Fleet dating from 1997 remain intact; the fleet is to remain in Sevastopol until 2017. We intend to resolve the remaining unsettled issues in a constructive manner so that members of the navy and their families will be able to feel comfortable, and the stationing of the fleet in Ukraine will contribute to stability and security in the region, while strengthening Russian-Ukrainian relations," Karasin said.
He said a session of a bilateral intergovernmental commission on the issue would be held February 14.
