Russia returns naval base to Vietnam
HANOI - Russia has returned control to Vietnam of the air and naval base at Cam Ranh Bay, a key
deep-water port used by American forces during the Vietnam War.
The two sides signed documents completing the handover in a ceremony Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Phan Thuy Thanh said.
Admiral Dennis Blair, chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, said earlier the United States would be interested in using Cam
Ranh Bay for humanitarian missions and port calls after Russia's departure.
But Thanh appeared to rule out any future military use of the port by foreign nations, saying: ``Vietnam will not
cooperate with any country to use Cam Ranh port for military purposes.''
In 1979, Vietnam and the former Soviet Union signed an agreement on leasing the Cam Ranh base for 25 years. But
Russia announced last year that it would withdraw from the base before its lease expires in 2004.
Although Russia's lease was rent-free, its dwindling defense budget has made maintenance of overseas bases more
difficult.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said during a visit to Vietnam in March that Russia's withdrawal does not
indicate it wants to cut off military ties with Vietnam, its former Cold War ally. He said Moscow is willing to help
modernize Vietnam's mainly Soviet-equipped army by selling it weapons and other equipment.
Blair, the first recent Pacific commander in chief who did not fight in the Vietnam War, raised the possibility of port calls
at Cam Ranh Bay when he visited Vietnam in February.
Vietnam has given mixed signals on its plans for Cam Ranh Bay, with some officials advocating a conversion to civilian
use while the military favors keeping it strictly a Vietnamese military base.
The Associated Press - May 03, 2002.
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