09:59 13.05.2013

Russian Black Sea Fleet, Ukrainian Navy to keep peace in region - Matviyenko

2 min read

Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko took part in Sevastopol celebrations dedicated to the 230th anniversary of the Black Sea Fleet.

Russia attributes special significance to further development and modernization of the Black Sea Fleet, Matviyenko said.

"The Black Sea Fleet cannot do with old ships and armaments, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a program of the fleet re-equipment, which stipulates construction of new ships and submarines and modernization of seaborne aviation," Matviyenko stressed.

Simple logic shows that the fleet will be unable to accomplish its mission in the contemporary world unless its timely modernization and re-equipment are provided, she said. "The Black Sea Fleet will be the most modern, mighty and powerful and will carry out the responsible mission of preservation of peace in the region together with the Ukrainian Navy," Matviyenko said.

She said that the Russian Defense Ministry had been ordered to form a permanent naval force in the Mediterranean Sea. "Our ships have been continuously accomplishing missions in that region for more than six months," the speaker added.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Rybak said Ukraine would honor its commitments to partners.

Matviyenko told reporters she had discussed with the Verkhovna Rada speaker the entire range of Russia-Ukraine relations, inter-parliamentary cooperation and issues regarding fulfillment of the inter-state agreement on the stationing of the Black Sea Fleet.

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