Azerbaijan, Baku, May 21 / Trend E.Ostapenko /
Some things are not measured by money, and Sevastopol is one of these cases, said head of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies' (RISS) Black and Caspian Seas Information and Analytical Center Eduard Popov.
"Sevastopol is a unique military base and there is no such other base on the Black Sea. It is one of the shrines of the Russian world and a focus of the Russian military's history. It is as much a sacred place as Moscow or Borodino," Popov told journalists on visit to Baku.
The Russian and Ukrainian presidents signed an agreement in April to extend the term of Russian Black Sea Fleet's presence in the Ukrainian port city of Sevastopol for 25 years with qa possible prolongation of another five years. Ukraine, in turn, received a 30-percent discount on Russian gas, which would cost Russia $40 billion over 10 years.
Popov believes the price is justified.
"Sevastopol has been under siege many times and defended the Russian border, so for Russia it means more than just a unique naval base. To lose Sevastopol is to lose Russia to some extent, " Popov said.
Ukrainian politicians, Western politicians and military leaders do not understand the importance of the city for Russia, he said.
Ukraine's previous government raised serious doubts over the possibility of extending the lease, but the new leadership under Viktor Yanukovych is more disposed to cooperate with Russia, he added.
Sevastopol repeatedly hosted rallies, marches and even motorbike races in support of the Russian fleet. It is the main source of livelihood for almost half of Sevastopol's residents and the military port equates to hundreds of jobs, Popov said.
He added that the contract also states that Russia is obliged to develop urban infrastructure.
Russia and Ukraine have numerous prospects for economic cooperation, he said. The Black Sea Shipyard Center in Nikolaev is one such example, as Russia lacks new ships, he said.
"Instead of buying them abroad, in France, for example, cooperating with Ukrainian enterprises would be a more promising option," Popov said.
Russian MP Mikhail Nenashev earlier stated that Ukraine may contribute to updating the Russian naval fleet.
"Although, Russia and Ukraine are different countries, we are one people, and rapprochement between us is not politics, but history," Popov said.