EU-brokered gas talks between Russia and Ukraine on a long-term supply deal due Tuesday in Berlin have been postponed, the EU announced Friday.
"The next round of EU-Russia-Ukraine trilateral gas talks, foreseen to be held in Berlin on Tuesday 14 April has been rescheduled," the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said in a statement.
"The parties will meet in Brussels at technical level during next week instead," it added.
The goal of the talks, which opened March 20 in Brussels, is to secure Russian gas deliveries for Ukraine through the next winter, as well as onward supplies to Europe.
Russia accounts for about a third of the EU's gas needs, with half that amount transiting via Ukraine
In Kiev, a Ukrainian government source told AFP that "the Russian side refused to be part of these negotiations in Berlin on April 13 so they won't take place."
"The Russians finally refused without giving a reason," the source said.
European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic sounded an upbeat note for the continuation of the talks.
"I welcome the progress that Russia and Ukraine have achieved so far," Sefcovic said in a statement.
"I am confident that expert talks will prepare the ground for the next meeting at political level, which is foreseen to take place still in April," he added.
Russia and Ukraine agreed last week to extend for three months an agreement reached last year to cover winter supplies up to end-March.
The two sides are negotiating against the backdrop of a shaky ceasefire between Kiev government forces and pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.
AFP
ahram.org.eg
10/4/15
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"The next round of EU-Russia-Ukraine trilateral gas talks, foreseen to be held in Berlin on Tuesday 14 April has been rescheduled," the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said in a statement.
"The parties will meet in Brussels at technical level during next week instead," it added.
The goal of the talks, which opened March 20 in Brussels, is to secure Russian gas deliveries for Ukraine through the next winter, as well as onward supplies to Europe.
Russia accounts for about a third of the EU's gas needs, with half that amount transiting via Ukraine
In Kiev, a Ukrainian government source told AFP that "the Russian side refused to be part of these negotiations in Berlin on April 13 so they won't take place."
"The Russians finally refused without giving a reason," the source said.
European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic sounded an upbeat note for the continuation of the talks.
"I welcome the progress that Russia and Ukraine have achieved so far," Sefcovic said in a statement.
"I am confident that expert talks will prepare the ground for the next meeting at political level, which is foreseen to take place still in April," he added.
Russia and Ukraine agreed last week to extend for three months an agreement reached last year to cover winter supplies up to end-March.
The two sides are negotiating against the backdrop of a shaky ceasefire between Kiev government forces and pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.
AFP
ahram.org.eg
10/4/15
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Related:
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Η τριμερής σύνοδος σε επίπεδο υπουργών για το ζήτημα της ασφάλειας του εφοδιασμού με αέριο, η οποία προγραμματιζόταν να γίνει την επόμενη εβδομάδα, ανεβλήθη και αντ΄ αυτής πρόκειται να γίνουν μόνο τεχνικές διαβουλεύσεις, ανακοίνωσε η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή. .
ReplyDeleteΟι συνομιλίες αναμενόταν αρχικά να γίνουν την ερχόμενη Τρίτη στο Βερολίνο. Νωρίτερα σήμερα η Naftogaz, η ουκρανική δημόσια επιχείρηση αερίου, είχε ανακοινώσει ότι επισπεύδονται και θα γίνονταν τη Δευτέρα.
Έπειτα από έναν πρώτο γύρο συνομιλιών τον Μάρτιο, η Κομισιόν είχε υποβάλει ένα ερωτηματολόγιο στη Μόσχα και στο Κίεβο. Σε σημερινή της ανακοίνωση σημειώνει ότι δεν έχει λάβει απαντήσεις για όλα τα ερωτήματα τα οποία είχε θέσει.
“Η τριμερής που προβλεπόταν στο Βερολίνο αναβλήθηκε και μια συνάντηση σε επίπεδο εμπειρογνωμόνων θα οργανωθεί την επόμενη εβδομάδα στις Βρυξέλλες”, επισημαίνει η ανακοίνωση της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής.
“Η ιδέα είναι να οργανώσουμε την τριμερή σύνοδο (σε επίπεδο υπουργών) εντός του Απριλίου, αλλά χρειάζεται ακόμη να διευθετηθούν τεχνικά ζητήματα”, διευκρινίζεται στην ανακοίνωση.
Τις πληροφορίες αυτές επιβεβαίωσε ο αντιπρόεδρος της Κομισιόν αρμόδιος για την Ενέργεια Μάρος Σέφτσοβιτς.
Οι συζητήσεις σε επίπεδο εμπειρογνωμόνων αναμένεται να συνεχιστούν πριν προγραμματιστεί το επόμενο πολιτικό ραντεβού διότι “δεν έχουν επιλυθεί όλα τα τεχνικά ζητήματα” ακόμη, διευκρίνισε ο ίδιος...........capital.gr
10/4/15