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 Inter fax 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.
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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.
(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2006)
