Court to define status of Zmeiny Island

Ukraine and Romania will treat with respect decision of International UNO court in Hague concerning dilemma of status of Zmeiny Island.

Yesterday Victor Yushchenko and Traian Basescu told after tête-à-tête meeting. Such decision is expected in late 2008. The President of Ukraine noted: “We do not exclude the possibility of bilateral solving of these of those questions, concerning the delimitation of the Black Sea shelf.”

According to the director of Center of peace, conversion and foreign policy Olexander Sushko, juridical recourse on August 15, 2005 does not mean stopping the negotiations between Kyiv and Bucharest concerning delimitation of Ukrainian-Romanian frontier and status of Zmeiny Island.

“Two countries adhere to two alternative points, that’s why the interference of International UNO court in this case is considered as positive moment,” Sushko said.

At the same time BYuT parliamentarian, the head of Council group on cooperation with Romania Yury Kruk, is convinced that negotiations on Zmeiny Island are “in normal course”. “Ukraine adheres to the position that Zmeiny Island is our territory and is not going to refuse from it during negotiations with Romania. There are possible compromises in this question,” people’s deputy said.

Natalya Shapovalova an expert on foreign policy of international center of prospective study said that hope of Romania on positive court decision for Romania benefit will trouble negotiation process.

Participation of Ukraine in realization of gas transport project that will provide for gas supplies from Central Asia via Turkey and Austria can make positions of the countries more close.

Yushchenko said that he is going to forward Romania the Ukrainian proposes on this project in the near future.