CHERNIHIV. Feb 25 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukraine and Russia will reshuffle working groups that are tackling Russian Black Sea Fleet issues.
"The agreement with regard to the Russian Black Sea Fleet was signed 18 years ago, about 80 working groups and sub-commissions were created but plenty of operating problems remained unsolved. In my opinion, there has been no desire to find a solution," Ukrainian Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev told a press briefing at the Desna military training center. He was speaking of a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Ukraine and Russia agreed to review the composition of working groups with the intent of boosting their activity, the minister said.
Besides, the two defense ministries are considering joint construction of homes for Ukrainian and Russian servicemen in the Crimea, Lebedev said.
"We discussed the social issue of joint construction of homes for Ukrainian and Russian servicemen, primarily on the vacant premises of military compounds," he said.
There are lots of vacant military compounds in the Crimea and Sevastopol, and homes should be built there, he said. The minister said they might attract private investment, create jobs and finally accommodate servicemen.
Ukraine also raised the question of servicemen's pensions, he said.
"Ukraine suggested that Russian servicemen transferred to the reserve and wishing to stay in Ukraine should have an opportunity to receive their pensions in Ukraine," he said.
This is a procedural matter: Russia has such agreements with Germany, Israel and other countries, he said.
"Ukraine will have a chance to draw financial resources: the money will stay here to develop infrastructure and service other needs of Ukraine. What is the most important, people will be comfortable, they won't have to visit Russia once in every three months," Lebedev said.