Premier Tymoshenko guarantees Europe trouble-free gas transit

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko claims the Russia natural gas will be transported to European countries without any troubles.

NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine will work as a reliable partner of Russia and the European Union on gas transit to Europe," she said.

The Premier also stressed that all current payments of the natural gas consumed are held according to the agreements concluded with Russia.

Y. Tymoshenko noted that earlier pre-payment for gas pumped into underground gas storage facilities was done with a delay until this gas is started to be consumed. "But now the Russian Federation set tough conditions for Ukraine - to pay for all gas pumped into the underground gas storage facilities," Tymoshenko said.

According to her, the government has been discussing for the last two months with Russia "how we should pay for the gas that is not consumed by the country yet, particularly, that was pumped into the underground gas storage facilities in October 2008". Ukraine on this issue, according to the Prime Minister, will try to convince Russia of the need to delay in payment for several months. "I believe we will reach mutual understanding, as NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine delegation had left for talks with JSC Gazprom with this purpose," she underscored.

Tymoshenko also informed that Ukraine paid off almost USD 1.6 billion of gas debts of the previous government and as many as 17 billion cu m of gas has been pumped into the underground gas storage facilities as of today.

UKRINFORM