Ukrainian PM pledges to ensure gas transit to Europe October 31, 2014 - 16:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, speaking after a gas agreement with Russia was nailed down, said on Friday, Oct 31, Ukraine would guarantee deliveries of gas through its territory to Europe to make sure Moscow had no room for "blackmailing", Reuters reports. Yatseniuk, speaking to Ukrainian energy officials, criticized Russia's South Stream project to transport Russian gas through the Black sea to Europe and added: "Ukraine will guarantee transit. "It (Ukraine) will not give Russia the means of blackmailing Ukraine and Europe with different (gas) flows," he said. Ukraine, Russia and the European Union signed a deal on Thursday that will see Moscow resume vital supplies of gas to its ex-Soviet neighbor over the winter in return for payments funded in part by Kiev's Western creditors. After several failed rounds of talks in recent weeks as conflict rumbles on despite a ceasefire with pro-Russian armed groups in eastern Ukraine, the accord also eases concerns that a new "gas war" could disrupt winter supplies of energy to EU states, notably through pipelines shut down across Ukraine since June. Yatseniuk said on Friday he would talk to the International Monetary Fund later in the day to discuss how to adapt his country's $17-billion stand-by program with the lender following the gas deal. Photo: Frontzmin   Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion.   Partner news |  Latest news Protesters rally as Georgia debates 'foreign agent' bill  Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law", comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent.Former Pashinyan envoy urges end to Genocide speculation Marukyan has urged authorities in Armenia stop discussions about verifying the names of 1.5 million victims.Azerbaijan, Jordan sign deal on defense cooperation Azerbaijan and Jordan have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, according to an official statement.First Canadian expert join EU mission in Armenia The first Canadian expert to join the European Union’s civilian mission in Armenia has arrived in Armenia. |
