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Russia has started dredging at a Syrian port where it maintains a logistical supply point with a possible eye to turning it into a full-fledged naval base, a respected Russian business daily said Friday, according to the Russian Journal. Tartus, the second most important Syrian port on the Mediterranean, could be transformed into a base for Black Sea Fleet warships when they are redeployed from the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol, Kommersant daily said, quoting sources in Russia’s diplomatic service and the Defense Ministry. Vladimir Zimin, a senior economic advisor at the Russian Embassy to Syria, said Russia had simultaneously launched...

Russia Refuses Ukrainian Rent Hike By NATASHA LISOVA Associated Press Writer © 2006 The Associated Press KIEV, Ukraine — Russia will not pay more to base its Black Sea Fleet in a Ukrainian port, a senior Russian official said Tuesday, rebuffing Ukrainian demands and setting the stage for the latest dispute between the ex-Soviet neighbors. Russian and Ukrainian officials, however, said talks would continue and agreed to conduct an inventory of disputed lighthouses and other property in the Black Sea, which Ukraine insists it owns and accuses Russia of illegally taking over. The dispute stems from Ukrainian efforts to review...

Ukraine May Raise Rent On Russia's Black Sea Fleet 9 December 2005 A senior Ukrainian official says Kyiv may ask Russia to pay more to base its Black Sea fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Anatoliy Matviyenko, deputy head of the presidential administration, said today that if the two countries are going to switch to world prices, "Ukraine has the right" to raise the fleet's rent to international levels. Russia and Ukraine are involved in a bitter dispute over gas prices. Russia is asking Ukraine to pay world market prices for gas deliveries, offering in return to pay market...