30.10.02

Ukraine must have close look at international gas transport consortium

Ukraine must look afresh at all aspects of the plan to set up an international gas transport consortium and decide what is best for it, U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Carlos Pascual told the press on Monday.

In particular, the way to deal with Ukraine's debt to Russia for gas supplies, who will contribute their assets to the project, what the financial arrangements will be and what the capital flow would be are among the issues to be analyzed if Ukraine is to be in an advantageous position, Pascual said. In addition to Russia and Germany's Ruhrgas, other European countries are likely to join the consortium, he said.

Russia and Ukraine signed earlier in the month documents on the setting up of an international consortium that will manage and expand Ukraine's gas pipeline network.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and Ukraine Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh signed the agreement in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma at a CIS summit in Chisinau.

(Interfax)