As a result of lengthy negotiations, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger EU policy in the German capital outlined progress in solving Ukrainian payment for Russian gas supplies.
This was already the eighth since the spring meeting of the “troika” of negotiators, for which, it is hoped the parties, to be followed by only one more before the start of the heating season in Europe meeting on which side, if all goes well, are going to sign the final memorandum.
The decision was obviously difficult. It seemed that Ettinger and Novak, and was also present at the talks the head of “Gazprom” Alexey Miller, in principle, were pleased with their proposals, but the whole thing left for Prodan and the head of “Naftogaz” Andrei Kovalev. After a brief joint meeting of the representatives of the Ukrainian party retired to the meeting and stayed on the sidelines for almost two hours. Present in the press conference, journalists and experts have begun to worry that the agreement will be disrupted and, as with undisguised concern for several weeks in a row write German media, in the winter in apartments Europeans will be cold.
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However, Guenther Oettinger, released first on separate press conference, did not hide his joy. At first he was a little tough love present background and mentioned that he was authorized to conduct negotiations between Russia and the European Union after President Vladimir Putin in an official letter to the European Commission in March, has expressed serious concern about the situation for the supply of gas to Ukraine. And only then Oettinger told about the points reach a compromise, stressing that the final signing of the agreement to be held next week in Berlin after the Russian and Ukrainian sides will discuss the results of the negotiations with the management of their countries.
According to Alexander Novak, the Russian side and the European Union do not have disagreements adopted a new package. After the Ukrainian side will consider these proposals, the “troika” will continue to consult. For Russia, the minister said, have priority and ensuring a reliable supply of Western partners in the contracts, as well as the normalization of the situation in Ukraine’s debt.
Alexander Novak has put emphasis on the fact that Russia has fully discharged its obligations to supply gas, actually crediting the Ukrainian economy. After all, for the supply of the equipment, “Gazprom” has received only 786 million dollars, and 11.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine has not yet been paid. The first item on the package of agreements was the question of payment of Ukraine’s debt for gas supplies in November and December last year and for the period from April to June of this year.
According to Alexander Novak, for the Russian side in the moment it was important to resolve the issues to guarantee payment for previously delivered gas. As informed Alexander Novak, in tanks of Ukraine contains enough gas, so buy and download fuel should start as early as October. As a necessary condition for the start of deliveries under the new price “Gazprom” has requested a partial payment of the Ukrainian debt of $ 3.1 billion. The remaining amount of the debt, according to the minister, should be restructured.
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According to Ettinger, on this International Monetary Fund under the guarantee of the European Commission has allocated Ukraine that amount. Only after the transfer of $ 2 billion before the end of October, Russia will start gas supplies to Ukraine. Until the end, it must translate the rest on account of its 1.1 billion euro IMF loans. As explained by the Minister, on the principle of “take and pay” the Ukrainian side to meet its fuel requirements, as well as to fulfill the obligation to maintain and transit shall select, depending on the temperature and the need for at least $ 5 billion and a maximum of 12 billion cubic meters of gas. Only under these volumes and should be contracted.
So, thanks to the new contract is expected to provide an uninterrupted supply of gas through Ukraine to the end of March 2015. At the moment Ukrainian debt is about 5.3 billion euros. Alexander Novak said that only in January we can talk about debt restructuring. Payment of bills for new gas supplies, Russia hopes to implement at a price of 385 euros per 1,000 cubic meters, thus giving way to Ukraine 100 euros with the same bargain price.
Alexander Novak, in turn, stressed that the packet matches a package, which the Russian side proposed spring for a longer period. However, in June the International Arbitration Court in Stockholm are “actions of the Ukrainian and Russian partners.” From court decisions that will be taken no earlier than the summer of next year, and the future depends on the price of gas supplied to Ukraine from Russia. Only after that will be seen, and how to deal with open accounts. If the court will take the side of Ukraine, the cost of thousands of cubic meters of gas will be about 280 euros. Russia, winning a court will be able to get paid to 485 euros.
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” But now, at least, we have no worries about the winter “- summed up the relief Gunther Ettinger, stressing that it is a reliable supply of gas to all European countries importing from Russia for a total of 500 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Ukraine, which imports about 30 billion cubic meters, performs the role of a transit country, so it is essential that its gas tanks were filled in the proper amount.
The question of “RG” that discussed the question whether the reverse gas Support for Ukraine, European Commissioner replied in the affirmative, stating, however, that in the present time, the reverse is not on the agenda. Reverse supply, according to the European Commissioner, can be discussed only when there is no scheduled deliveries. After all, “Gazprom” has all the operating rights to authorize reverse and without his consent, such actions are not possible. Only when the span gas through a separate line, in which the “Gazprom” is not involved, the reverse is possible, but it is practiced on a small scale, which is clearly not enough for the winter. According to him, Ukraine can not provide for themselves due to their own gas production and conservation reverse.
As noted by Yuriy Prodan, so far the country has received 26-27 billion cubic meters of gas in this way. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that the reverse does not conform to the agreement, but in general, noted his satisfaction with the agreement reached on the draft package of decisions, which implies a separate, valid six months of the current supply mechanism under the conditions of the existing contract.
Proceeding from the fact that “Naftogaz” and “Gazprom” are pending lawsuits, the minister stressed, it is now possible to agree only on a temporary price. European Commissioner Oettinger to the question “RG” noted that “the transit problems”, in other words, stealing gas, “go against the interests of Ukraine”, stressing that the current development of a “stable package” and he sees a real chance to sign an agreement next week .
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