17.06.03

Russia, Ukraine to prepare all documents on gas consortium by end of August

By the end of August Russia and Ukraine should complete work on all documents concerning an international gas-transporting consortium to begin work with companies from third countries, primarily Germany.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov made this announcement on Wednesday after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich.

He said that the deputy prime ministers of the two countries will soon submit official progress reports on the formation of the consortium to their presidents.

"The pre-investment phase is now nearing completion and should be thoroughly worked out by the end of August. Facilities and investment volumes have been defined," Kasyanov said.

"We are quite satisfied with the way the work is progressing," he said. However, he found it premature to disclose any other details of the Russian-Ukrainian talks on the formation of the consortium.

(Interfax)