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Putin lashes out at EU ahead of Moscow gas summit
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-17 10:59 BERLIN – Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin lashed out Friday at the European Union for its position in Moscow's gas dispute with Kiev, ahead of more talks in the Russian capital aimed at ending the crisis.
The EU's stance "constitutes de facto support of Ukraine, which is violating its transit obligations", Putin told a news conference after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. For her part, Merkel announced a "test phase" was being discussed with gas companies to resume Russian gas imports to Europe. "I ... spoke today with these companies, and I think there is a way, together with the companies (Russian) Gazprom and (Ukrainian) Naftogaz, to start a test phase," to resume gas imports to Europe via Ukraine, Merkel said. This would be a "regime in which gas supplies to western Europe and the Balkans will be made possible again and at the same time ensure that gas that Gazprom intends for Europe does not somehow disappear in Ukraine," she said. Merkel said this test phase, helped by European Union observers already in place in Russia as well as Ukraine, should be "implemented quickly". "I call for this way towards a test phase to be tried because time is pressing," Merkel said. "I hope that ... we can move towards a regime in which Europe again receives its gas." "I am very pleased that companies in Germany are also showing their readiness, ... along with Gaz de France [GDF Suez], ENI and Gazprom, to find a feasible solution," she added. Putin was also optimistic that such a trial period could succeed, saying, "there are details which should be worked out at the corporate level. I think it can be done." He added it would be "right and sensible" to create a group of international experts to check "the technical state of the gas transit system of Ukraine and determine the ... optimal routes for our gas exports and insure us and our consumers against unending theft". Before meeting Merkel, Putin held talks with top executives from European gas firms including Germany's EON Ruhrgas, Italy's ENI, France's GDF Suez and Wingas -- a joint venture between Gazprom and Germany's BASF Wintershall -- to discuss his idea to create a consortium to transit gas through Ukraine. The purpose of the consortium, say Russian officials, is to resolve the fraught issue of so-called "technical gas" -- gas that is not delivered to consumers but is used to maintain pipeline pressure and keep supplies flowing. But Ukraine rebuffed the idea, with one official comparing the plan to a "dead cat". Roman Bezsmertny, deputy chief of staff to the Ukrainian president said, "today, the idea of a consortium is like a dead cat at a time when gas transit problems from Russia to Europe have worsened". Meanwhile, a call by Russia for a summit in Moscow on Saturday appeared to have gone largely unheeded, with no leader from any of the large European countries expected to attend. EU officials however did pledge to attend. This prompted scathing criticism from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said the summit was "one of the most realistic options for breaking this deadlock ... probably it suits someone to not do anything, but not us". The EU said it was sending Czech Industry Minister Martin Riman, whose country holds the EU presidency, and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs to the Moscow talks. The bitter row over gas supplies has overshadowed what Putin might have hoped would be a pleasant trip down memory lane. He was stationed in what was then East Germany as a KGB officer between 1985 and 1990. Putin was nonetheless expected to travel later Friday to Dresden, his old stamping ground, where he is set to join 2,000 tuxedo-clad guests at the fancy debutantes' ball -- one of Germany's hottest social events. The prime minister will receive the "Order of Saxon Gratitude" which is awarded to "exceptionally determined people who have courageously worked for the present and the future of both Saxony and Germany". |
