Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Recently the Russian side has begun construction, and now it is actively constructing a dam in the Kerch Strait in order to connect a part of Ukrainian territory (Tuzla Spit) to the Russian shore of the Taman Peninsula.

The potential possibility of violation of Ukraine's state border is especially alarming. Such conclusion may be drawn from the media statement of a representative of border authority of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, who said that a Russian border post would be established on the Tuzla Spit after completion of works.

Taking into account the existing situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has undertaken urgent measures. Thus, on 30 September 2003, charge d'affaires a.i. of the Russian Federation in Ukraine was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, where he was delivered a relevant note.

On 2 October 2003, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine made an urgent visit to Moscow, where he held special consultations in that regard.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine underlines that, according to the norms of international practice and practice of states, any works at the state border may be performed only upon properly formalized consent of both states.

It is indicative that the dam is being constructed at the moment when the bilateral negotiations on delimitation of maritime space in the Kerch Strait are incomplete. Therefore, the Ukrainian side is reasonably alarmed by the actions of the Russian Federation that contradict the provisions of Article 2 of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership dated 31 May 1997 and on Article 5 of the Treaty on the Ukrainian-Russian State Border dated 28 January 2003.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine brings to the notice of the Russian side that any unilateral works at the said section of the Kerch Strait shall have no influence on the line of the existing Ukrainian-Russian border.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls upon the Russian side to undertake urgent measures to correct the existing situation and to refrain from any actions that could infringe on the state sovereignty of Ukraine over a part of its territory, as well as cause harm to the development of the Ukrainian-Russian relations.

Ukraine hopes that the arguments stated in the note, during the consultations and in this Statement, will meet understanding of the Russian Federation and allow to continue settlement of all problems of bilateral relations in the spirit of mutual respect and adherence to international law.