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Russia's Black Sea Fleet beefs up security after lighthouse seizure
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-16 15:47
Russia's Black Sea Fleet boosted security at its navigational facilities on
Sunday amid a dispute with Ukraine over a lighthouse linked to the fleet in the
Crimean city of Yalta, a navy spokesman said.
"Security at the Black Sea Fleet's navigational facilities has been
tightened," Igor Dygalo was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. "If
further attempts are made to seize the fleet's facilities or to enter them,
security will be tightened even further."
Russia's move came after Ukraine threatened to take over all the navigational
facilities of the Black Sea Fleet.
The two countries signed an accord in 1997 on dividing up the Soviet Black
Sea Fleet. Under the deal, Russia leases the Sevastopol port in Ukraine's Crimea
peninsula to base its ships until 2017.
The dispute emerged on Friday when staff of a Ukrainian state company seized
the lighthouse and denied Russian servicemen access to the lighthouse.
Russian navy officials have accused Ukraine of violating the lease agreement
that allows the Black Sea Fleet to use Ukraine's facilities.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday called for dialogue with Ukraine,
saying only a constructive dialogue could yield mutually compatible solutions to
disputes between the two countries.
During a recent row over natural gas prices, Ukraine threatened to raise the
annual rent Russia pays for leasing the Sevastopol port. Russia rejected it as
unacceptable.
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