22 April 2010, 19:10
The Verkhovna Rada plans to scrutinize on 27 April the Issue on Ratification of the Treaty on Prolongation for the Term of 25 Years of the Russian Federation Black Sea Fleet Dislocation on the Territory of Ukraine. It was declared by V. Lytvyn, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the course of the briefing. V. Lytvyn expressed hope that tomorrow, all the necessary documents would be directed to the Parliament for the People´s Deputies to get acquainted with them.
According to the Head of the Parliament, he reached the agreement with Borys Hryzlov, the State Duma Chairman regarding the simultaneous ratification of the indicated treaty by the Verkhovna Rada and the State Duma.
Asked by the journalists, V. Lytvyn also stated that the attempts of the opposition to block the Parliamentary tribune in the course of this issue scrutiny "is not a solution of this problem", though, according to V. Lytvyn they only search "reasons for fighting" and public confrontation.
"I assume the responsibility foe declaring that in legal aspect Ukraine has not gave up its area, for other states to equip their naval base", V. Lytvyn explained, giving comments regarding the declaration of opposition representatives on lack of harmonization of the treaties with the clause 7 part 17 of the Constitution that prohibits dislocation of foreign military base on the territory of Ukraine. Though, the Speaker reminded that item 14 of the Transitional Provisions of the Constitution strictly defines that use of military base on the territory of Ukraine for the temporary stay of foreign military formation is possible on the lease conditions, in the order defined by the international treaties of Ukraine, ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
He also emphasised the economic aspect of the treaty: "Ukraine at the present moment for the Black Sea Fleet dislocation received symbolically nominally USD 97,7 million at the expense of the debt extinction, and the debt sum comprises USD 2,3 billion. If one calculates the sum, Ukraine annually will receive USD 1,2 billion for the temporary stay of navy bases on its territory. Approximately for 10 years Ukraine receives nearly USD 40 billion I suppose it is positive for Ukraine. There is also moral-psychological aspect I mean, first of all, people, living in Crimea will have opportunity to work when the infrastructure development is provided."
"One may repeatedly criticize these agreements though it is difficult to ignore the fact that at the same time, Ukraine used to received actually noting at all for the dislocation of the military formation on its territory and now we will receive considerable income", the Head of the Parliament stated. V. Lytvyn expressed thought that the politicians that criticize the dignitaries for the betrayal of the national interests "may, if they want to, be cynics and pragmatics, they only need to win after the five years and cancel all these agreements."
V. Lytvyn explained that actually the Government was obliged: either to fulfill the signed by the previous President, prime Minster and Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine memorandum with International Monetary Fund, that presupposed immense increase of the tariffs for the citizens and prepare the Budget based on it, or search other solution, that does not envisage problem solving at the expense of the citizens. "Probably it is not the ideal solution, still it is the result of the complicated process of consultations and negotiations not even only on bilateral level", V. Lytvyn summed up.
Asked by the journalists V. Lytvyn excluded the military threat for Ukraine and the world because of the Russian Federation Black Sea Fleet dislocation on the territory of Ukraine.