EU not questioning Ukraine's right to own its gas transit system, says Yuschenko

13:15

Although the conditions for raising funds needed to modernize Ukraine's gas transportation system (GTS) have yet to be determined, the European Union does not throw into question the country's right to own its GTS and underground gas storage facilities, Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko has said.

"The European Union does not throw into question Ukraine's sovereign right to possess its gas transportation system, including underground gas storage facilities. It should be stated with confidence that the domestic GTS is a strategic asset of the Ukrainian people that will guarantee the protection of their national interests for many years if it is wisely used," he told the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror of the Week) newspaper ahead of an international conference on the modernization and reconstruction of the Ukrainian gas transportation system, which will be held in Brussels on March 23.

Yuschenko said that the fact of holding this conference is a diplomatic success for Ukraine and a step towards its integration with the European energy space.

However, he said that the specific conditions for raising funds required to upgrade the Ukrainian GTS have yet to be determined.

21.03.2009