Delegation of the European Union arrived today in Kyiv to conduct talks with Ukraine on transit of Russian natural gas trough Ukrainian territory to the EU countries.
Among the delegates were Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Martin Riman, Ambassador-at-Large for Energy Security of the Czech Republic Vaclav Bartuska, Director General at DG Energy & Transport of the European Commission Mattias Ruete, Director of Gas and Liquid Fuels Department at Ministry of Trade of the Czech Republic Jan Zaplatilek, Head of European Energy Commissioner’s Cabinet Andris Kesteris, Energy Advisor at DG External Relations of the European Commission Faouzi Bensarsa, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Commission in Ukraine Dirk Schubel.
The talks opened at Presidential Secretariat.
Opening the talks First Deputy Secretariat Chief of Staff Oleksandr Shlapak thanked representatives of the European Union for accepting the invitation of the Ukrainian side.
Then Olexandr Shlapak in detail explained President Yushchenko’s position on the situation with transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory to the EU countries. He stressed that it is unfortunate that there is still no agreement base, clearly stating obligations of both Russian and Ukrainian side regarding supplies of gas to Ukraine and its transit to Europe.
Yet, according to Olexandr Shlapak, despite disputes with Russian side, Ukraine continues transit of gas to Europe using in fact its own resources to prevent deterioration of the situation.
As Olexandr Shlapak also said, Ukraine believes that Gas Coordination Group meeting, scheduled on January 9, would help resolve the dispute. “We will discuss the situation with our Russian partners in presence of the European Commission and, I hope, will find the way put”, - he said.
