Ukraine to implement gas deals with Russia - President Yushchenko

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A price formula envisaged by the agreements between Ukraine and Russia on gas supplies to Ukraine and transit via its territory is habitat and the Ukrainian party assumed complex commitments under the instrument, President Viktor Yushchenko was speaking for an interview to The Financial Times. At the same time, he assured the European consumers that Ukraine will implement these commitments in full.

The Ukrainian President strongly rejected that the gas conflict had affected the relations of Ukraine with the EU and Eurointegration prospects. Yushchenko is confident that, to the contrary, this encouraged further mutual understanding of the parties. "This even enhances the impetus of mutual understanding in Eurointegration. We are honest in frames of this incident and the truth is with us," Yushchenko stressed.

At the same time the January developments showed a significant dependence of the EU countries on one supplier of energy sources and revealed the absence of a common gas policy in the European Union. "The Ukrainian component - is a little echo of this global problem," he added. V. Yushchenko expressed confidence that arrangement of gas relations at the bilateral level does not perfectly meet the European interests.

UKRINFORM