ALUPKA. July 4 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukraine's hosting of the Russian Black Sea Fleet will not be an impediment to integration with NATO, said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Steven Pifer. He made this comment at Vorontsov Palace in Alupka, Crimea, where he attended a GUUAM- U.S. meeting on Thursday.
Ukraine and Russia arrived at a very practical solution to the issue in 1996, when they signed a treaty on basing the fleet in Ukraine, he said.
NATO and Ukraine have signed an Action Plan that provides for reform of the armed forces, the economy and the democratic system in Ukraine, Pifer said. By moving along that road, Ukraine will approach NATO, he said.
Relations between NATO and Moscow have come a long way in 15 years, Pifer said.
Asked about the American position on the appointment of Yevhen Marchuk as Ukraine's new defense minister, he said the U.S. is looking forward to cooperating with him on numerous issues.
He and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Carlos Pascual met with Marchuk on Wednesday, and the meeting showed that the two countries have a solid base for expanding cooperation, Pifer said.