Kharkiv, April 21 (Interfax) - The term of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea will be extended by 25 years, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday after talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
He added that the sides agreed on the possibility of prolonging the term by five more years.
"We have signed an agreement indicating that the term of presence of the Black Sea Fleet is extended by 25 years with the possibility of prolongation by five more years, if neither side decides to withdraw from the agreement," Medvedev said.
"This document symbolizes our friendship," he said.
Medvedev added that the understanding increases confidence and "creates better conditions for guaranteeing security in the Black Sea area."
In line with the agreement the presence of the Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol is prolonged by 25 years as of 2017.
Medvedev said that the fleet agreement became "the important reason to meet promptly and demonstrate results."
He added that the Russian naval presence in the Black Sea "creates the necessary balance of interests for all parties to Black Sea area relations, primarily for Russia and Ukraine."
"This measure can also be considered in the context of the initiative of maintaining European security that I put forward in 2008," he said. "I am glad that Mr. Yanukovych supported the initiative," he said.
