Wednesday, 28 January 2009
The Ukrainian gas transportation system is a guarantee of Ukraine's energy independence and will remain in state hands, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Turchinov announced during a briefing on Tuesday.
"Ukraine's gas transportation system is a guarantee of Ukraine's energy independence," Turchinov said. "That is our position, and therefore [the system] will remain state property. That, by the way, does not interfere with its effective operations."
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso early on Tuesday to reassure the EU that Ukraine would stick to a recent gas transit deal signed with Russia, even though the Ukrainian leader has indicated he is unhappy with the agreement.
Russian gas transits to Europe through Ukraine stopped on January 7 after Russia accused Ukraine of stealing Europe-bound gas and both sides failed to reach an agreement over a new gas contract. Even after a new EU-mediated contract was signed, Yushchenko's aides said the president was unhappy with the deal and demanded new talks.
Yushchenko has said that Ukraine is interested in modernizing the gas transport system although in his opinion, it remains one of the most reliable systems in Europe. The president also said that it was important that Ukraine joins the European agreement on energy cooperation this year.
Barroso announced an international investment conference on modernizing Ukraine's gas transportation system, involving representatives from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, will be held in Brussels March 21.
Ukraine's deputy prime minister said that Yushchenko proposals for some sort of energy integration with Europe that he discussed at the meeting with Barroso were not entirely clear.
"Regarding integration with some sort of European energy system that the president announced...I have no understanding of what integration is included in Viktor Yushchenko's vision and where to integrate," Turchinov said.
"There is a gas transport system that belongs to the government and it should belong to the state," he said. "We're for any integration that is in Ukraine's interests. If Ukraine's interests are preserved," he said.
