03.12.02

Ukraine offers role in gas transportation consortium to Azerbaijan

Ukraine has invited Azerbaijan to join a gas transportation consortium and take part in the construction of a single oil transportation network to Europe.

This suggestion was voiced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych at a meeting with Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov.

"We suggest that you consider the possibility of joining the consortium in the future," Yanukovych said.

He said "you will find this option interesting," since Azerbaijan will operate gas deliveries to Europe.

The prime minister proposed setting up an ad hoc joint working group or commission.

Yanukovych said the creation of a singe oil transportation network is another major aspect of cooperation with Azerbaijan. "We would like to establish conditions that would enable you to deliver oil via Ukraine," the prime minister said, referring to the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline.

Ukraine and Russia on October 7 signed an intergovernmental agreement on strategic cooperation in the gas sector, in addition to a treaty between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy paving the way for an international consortium to operate and develop Ukraine's gas transportation networks.