Russia believes that international observers should continue monitoring the Ukrainian gas transportation system at least until the end of the first quarter of 2009
During a press conference after a joint meeting of the Russian cabinet and European Commission representatives Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told the reporters that his country is asking the EU obserevers to stay in Ukraine until April 2009.
He also noted that Ukraine had not yet provided Russian representatives with access to either the main dispatching center in Kiev or its underground gas storages.
In turn, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso vowed that the European Union was ready to keep its monitors at Ukraine's gas transportation facilities for as long as Russia and Ukraine deemed necessary. The most important thing is for the monitors to ensure stable gas deliveries to Europe, Barroso stated.
Author:
Ksenia Kochneva
