EC recognition of Ukraine's gas debt is important outcome of Warsaw talks - Novak
MOSCOW. May 5 (Interfax) - An important outcome of the three-party consultations held in Warsaw on May 2 was the recognition by the European Commission of Ukraine's gas debt, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters.
Novak said May 2 consultations did not yield a specific result. "I believe they did not yield any results because it was the first meeting where the parties stated their positions on three main issues," he said.
At the same time, the minister said that "we have heard the position of the European Union and Oettinger, who in our view has made it very clear that Ukraine is not paying for the gas supplied and the issue needs to be resolved." "It is one of the results of these consultations," the minister said.
He also said Ukraine has confirmed the gas supply contracts that were signed in 2009. "It can be said that some positions voiced by Russia were backed by the consultation participants," Novak said.
The parties agreed to continue the consultations until the end of May. "We will have at least two more meetings. Another meeting will take place in mid May. We still have not agreed on the agenda and we need to prepare for this meeting in a more detailed way, involving experts and preparing the necessary materials. Another meeting will be held in late May because we believe that the consultations should be completed in May," he said.