Ukraine puts no obstacles for Russian gas transit to Europe - Viktor Yushchenko

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Ukraine in no way hindered the transit of Russian gas to European countries, President Viktor Yushchenko said this at a press conference on the supplies of Russian gas Tuesday.

"I would like this official stance be delivered to the citizens of the European Union, heads of state and heads of government. Ukraine has made no step to halt the deliveries of Russian gas to Europe," V. Yushchenko stressed.

At the same time he added that this is a compelling stand for Ukraine, as today there are a lot of gossips and biased reports that discredit Ukraine which is fulfilling its international commitments thoroughly and worthily.

The Ukrainian President also claimed that since January 1, 2009 Ukraine has not taken gas illegally Russia keeps on reporting about. "No cubic meter of Russian gas beyond regulations was taken from the system, beginning from 2009," the Head of State noted.

V. Yushchenko also emphasized that Ukraine has no debts to any of Russian structures for gas consumed in 2008. "Ukraine made final payments late in December 2008 for the gas consumed in November, and advance payments for the gas consumed in December," he said.

The President stressed that after suspension of the supplies of Russian gas to the EU countries it was exactly the Ukrainian party to initiate involvement of the European Commission as a third party to ensure efficient monitoring of the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine's territory. Presence of the EC representatives, in Yushchenko's opinion, may put an end to the long-lived dispute on the reliability of gas transit through Ukraine.

Yushchenko noted that Ukraine fulfilled and will further fulfill its commitments on the transit of Russian gas to Europe, and as before it is ready for a constructive dialogue with Russia to solve gas problems. "We were and are a constructive party in talks with Russia on signing an agreement on the supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine and a contract on gas transit to European countries in 2009," the President said.

UKRINFORM