Russia won't give even a square foot of BSF land

14.10.2010 Deputy Chairman of Russia's parliamentary committee on CIS affairs Konstantin Zatulin knows nothing about plans to use lands leased by BSF in Sevastopol for commercial purposes.

"I haven't heard about any plans except those to use the territories by Black Sea Fleet assets. During the presidency of Yushchenko those lands were checked up; subtenants who had often worked on behalf of city residents were expelled out of there. Personally, I cannot see anything bad when it'd be a café in the territory of BSF athletic club", Zatulin said at the press conference in Sevastopol.

According to the Russian politician, lands and infrastructure released as a result of massive reductions in BSF should be reserved.

"From Russia's viewpoint, today there are no threats to our national interests in the region which could require a Soviet-like Black Sea Fleet. But tomorrow the situation may change, and new ideas could emerge. Lord forbids when in such moment it would appear that we had sold out everything we used to lease for BSF deployment. Today - one amount of ships, tomorrow - another. By the way, plans to reinforce BSF were officially announced by Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief", Zatulin said.

On the other hand, he did not speak out against the fact that Russian mariners share their quays with Ukrainian Sevmorport.

"If there's a possibility to cooperate with civilians, we should do this. And if that issue is militarily permissible and mutually interesting, it must be considered. Nonetheless, there's no reason to doubt that some territories are really leased by the Russian Federation. We cannot just pay for lands and give them for nothing just because it is more reasonable. That's a bit strange form of leasing, isn't it?" Zatulin added.

We recall that Sevastopol's mayor Valery Saratov previously offered in the interview to New Region that vacant plots of BSF lands could be used for joint investment projects by approbation of Russia.

Reportedly, the head of Sevmorport Yury Kravtsov spoke with an air of finality about an agreement with BSF command to use Minnaya quayside for moorage of tourist liners.

Prior to the presidential race, Viktor Yanukovich also expressed an opinion that Russia's BSF which is notably smaller than the Soviet one leases unnecessary lands.