territory as a partial covering of the Ukrainian debt for delivery of
Turkmen gas. Today, GazetaSNG.ru (CIS Online) news and analysis channel
informed that such a statement was made as a result of last week
negotiations in Ashkhabad on covering the gas debts of the Ukraine to
Turkmenistan. Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov, the Vice Prime Minister
of the Ukraine Oleg Dubina and the head of the Ukrainian Neftegas company
Vadim Kopilov took part in talks, during which Oleg Dubina stated about the
readiness of Kiev to take active part in various investment projects in
Turkmenistan. The Vice Prime Minister promised that next year the Ukrainian
companies will start construction of a dock in Turkmen port Turkmenbashi.
Moreover, Dubina did not exclude possible par!
ticipation of the Ukrainian specialists in reconstruction of this port, as
well as construction of metallurgical and aluminum plants.
While commenting the results of Ashkhabad consultations Prime Minister of
the Ukraine Anatoliy Kinakh stressed that "tangible results are reached as a
result of negotiations": the sides approved the terms of delivery of Turkmen
natural gas to the Ukraine in 2002. 40 billion cubic meters of gas at USD
42 for 1,000 cubic meters will be delivered. One part of the sum has to be
paid in hard currency, the other by products.
