UKRAINE AND TURKMENISTAN AGREED ON TERMS OF COVERING UKRAINIAN DEBTS FOR GAS DELIVERY

Official Ashkhabad confirmed its readiness to consider the delivery of goods from Ukraine and participation of the Ukrainian enterprises in implementation of innovation projects on its territory as a partial covering of the Ukrainian debt for delivery of Turkmen gas. Today, GazetaSNG.ru (CIS Online) news and analysis channel informed that such a statement was made as a result of last week negotiations in Ashkhabad on covering the gas debts of the Ukraine to Turkmenistan. Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov, the Vice Prime Minister of the Ukraine Oleg Dubina and the head of the Ukrainian Neftegas company Vadim Kopilov took part in talks, during which Oleg Dubina stated about the readiness of Kiev to take active part in various investment projects in Turkmenistan. The Vice Prime Minister promised that next year the Ukrainian companies will start construction of a dock in Turkmen port Turkmenbashi. Moreover, Dubina did not exclude possible par.

ticipation of the Ukrainian specialists in reconstruction of this port, as well as construction of metallurgical and aluminum plants. While commenting the results of Ashkhabad consultations Prime Minister of the Ukraine Anatoliy Kinakh stressed that "tangible results are reached as a result of negotiations": the sides approved the terms of delivery of Turkmen natural gas to the Ukraine in 2002. 40 billion cubic meters of gas at USD 42 for 1,000 cubic meters will be delivered. One part of the sum has to be paid in hard currency, the other by products.