Ukraine to negotiate with Moscow over Turkmen gas

Being in Ashgabad with official visit Ukrainian Minister for Fuel and Energy Ivan Plachkov informed about next week negotiations in Moscow. The participants will concern the issue of adjusting terms of Turkmen gas piping to Ukraine by the end of 2005 through the territory of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.

According to Plachkov, the gas negotiations in Moscow will be a "preliminary work and will serve as preparations for a meeting at the level of Russian and Ukrainian Premiers and Vice Premiers in early November 2005. “

He confirmed that a long-term contract on supplies of Turkmen gas to Ukraine "has a prospect.” He mentioned that a protocol between Ukraine and Turkmenistan was expected to be signed on October 27 and to reflect the real state of affairs on current Ukrainian payments for Turkmen. As he said, supplies of some goods, as payments for the gas, which are difficult to produce, were postponed to early 2006. The story is about high-technological goods to the tune of some $50 million.