Russia, Ukraine, EU to discuss gas issues in May: ministryApril 28, 2014 - 13:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the European Union are to gather to discuss the security of Russian natural gas supplies in early May, a spokeswoman for the Russian Energy Ministry said Monday, April 28, according to RIA Novosti. “[The meeting] is planned for the beginning of May,” the spokeswoman said, adding that the exact date will be set in the coming days. The Russian Energy Ministry had earlier proposed holding negotiations to discuss the gas supplies on April 28 in Moscow. The proposal came in response to a letter by EU Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger, in which he suggested discussing the venue and date of upcoming trilateral talks. Oettinger invited the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministries to participate in the talks, originally proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a letter to 18 European leaders earlier this month, Putin voiced concerns about Ukraine’s debt crisis, which could disrupt Russian gas supplies to Europe. He also called for urgent consultations at the ministerial level in order to work out concerted actions to stabilize Ukraine’s economy. 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 | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |