The FINANCIAL — Ukraine's opposition has warned against the ratification by the parliament of a deal extending Russia's use of a naval base in Crimea, with lawmakers due to consider the agreement on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reports.
"The opposition insists that the ratification issue should not be considered [by the parliament]," UNIAN news agency quoted the parliamentary leader of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYuT), Ivan Kyrylenko, as saying.
The deal, signed by the Russian and Ukrainian presidents on April 21, extends the lease on the Russian base in the port of Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease was to expire in 2017, and may be further extended by another five years.
Ukraine signed the agreement, which the opposition has called an "act of treason," in exchange for securing a 30% discount for the Russian natural gas supplies.
Kyrylenko said the majority of the Ukrainian population believes the controversial agreement with Russia "poses a threat to national interests and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Yulia Tymoshenko has called the deal with Russia a "shocking trade-off" and another "unconstitutional" move by her rival, President Viktor Yanukovych, who has vowed to turn a "new page" in relations with Russia.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has welcomed the deal, calling it a "great victory for President Viktor Yanukovych."
Azarov said the 10-year gas discount would allow the Ukrainian government to modernize the country's economy, which shrank 15% in 2009.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn has called on parliament members to discuss the matter in a civilized fashion amid the ongoing political disagreement over the controversial deal.
"I once again urge everyone towards dialogue and conversation, because a competition to see who can shout down whom will obviously give no result to either side," he said.
The discount will cost Russia an estimated $3 or $4 billion a year at current prices. And after 2017, it will reportedly be offset by comparable cuts in the new, higher rent for the naval facilities Russia uses in Crimea.
The Russian lower house of parliament, the State Duma, is also due to vote on the ratification of the deal on Tuesday. State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said he hoped the Ukrainian parliament will ratify the deal.
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