September 18 2002, 21:31 Interfax-Ukraine

USA to help Crimea solve the issue of land sharing

A working group to resolve contentious issues, arising from land sharing, will be created in Crimea. A principal agreement about it was reached in the course of meeting between Crimean Government Head Sergey Kunitsyn and US Ambassador to Ukraine Carlos Pascual, the press-service of Crimean Government has informed. The American diplomat has offered Crimea assistance to resolve conflict situations, arising in the sphere of land relationships on the ground of sharing.

The model of working group stipulates involvement into it of all the interested parties: representatives of Crimean Government, State Committee for Land Resources, Crimean Tatars and other local communities, other participants.

According to Ambassador, his recent consultations with representatives of Crimean Tatars have convinced him that their position underwent changes. "Many Crimean Tatars, who I have talked to, abandoned their previous stand to take away the land and to divide it," he said. At the same time, Mr. Pascual believes land issue in the Crimea remains to be sharp and land sharing is a key question as regards degree of its influence onto public. If the project is approved by all the participants, USA will direct specialists to Crimea and will provide technical assistance, the Ambassador said.

Kunitsyn informed that average size of a land share in the Crimea was 5.6 hectares. In some steppe areas it reaches 10 hectares, but on some piedmont territories it does not exceed 1 hectare. Land shortage concerns and resulting social tension is a pressing issue in 10 rural administrative units of the peninsula.

The working group can commence its work after all its participants approve the protocol of intentions.