Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (right) and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov drink champagne in Kiev, April 28, 2008.
Photo: Reuters
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Zubkov's Kiev Visit Promises Success
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov held negotiations with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and had a meeting of the interstate commission on Russian-Ukrainian economic cooperation yesterday in Kiev. Russia was openly dissatisfied with its economic relations with Ukraine on the even of Zubkov's visit. Natural gas, oil deliveries to Ukrainian refineries, oil transit through Ukraine, atomic energy and navigation in the Strait of Kerch were among the contentious points.
Tymoshenko emphasized in the negotiations that there are no serious problems in the country's economic relations. The latest payment for natural gas was made the previous day, she assured Zubkov. “It would be desirable to create more transparent relations on that issue many years in advance,” Zubkov replied. Later, he noted more succinctly, “Russian business encounters prejudiced, discriminatory relations in Ukraine.”
This is Zubkov's last visit to Ukraine as prime minister and it was a memorable visit. The decision was made to recommend that Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy “conclude a long-term agreement on the delivery of gas to Ukraine and its transit through it.” Ukraine agreed to intercede in the conflict with the Kremenchug oil refinery and to form a working group on the operations of Ukrtatneft. The Russian Ministry of Industry and Energy and Ukrainian Ministry of Fuel and Energy will hold consultations before July 1 on “improving competitive conditions for the transport of oil.” Tymoshenko even stated that a long-term contract on nuclear fuel deliveries would be concluded before the end of the year.
In spite of all the promises, no final agreements were reached. All the decisions will be finalized when Russian President Vladimir Putin becomes prime minister.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 29, 2008
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