Kyiv, Moscow should expand cooperation in gas sector - Yanukovych
KYIV. Dec 21 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is confident that Kyiv and Moscow should expand their cooperation in the gas sector.
Meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Gorki outside Moscow on December 20, Yanukovych called for wrapping up Ukrainian-Russian talks on gas supplies as soon as possible. "It is very important to bring this work to an end. We would like not just to finish these negotiations, but we would like to put them onto a midterm track, so that we could solve some issues now, this year, and make some strategic decisions. Certainly, we should expand cooperation in the gas sector in the future," Yanukovych said.
"I am happy that we have started enjoying mutual understanding and that we have some prospects in the end," he said.
Medvedev also acknowledged that it is important to arrange cooperation between Russia and Ukraine in the gas sector. "There are several approaches toward how we could arrange this partnership. I believe it is about time to do this. This would be beneficial to both the Russian and Ukrainian peoples. As for particular issues, I think we could start these negotiations," Medvedev said.
"But our governments should continue this subject then," he said.
Talking about Ukrainian-Russian cooperation in other areas, the Ukrainian president, in particular, pointed to vigorous cooperation the two countries are enjoying in the nuclear power generation sector. "In our view, our companies are working efficiently. We have good prospects for cooperation," Yanukovych said.
Ukraine and Russia could also step up cooperation in electricity transportation, he said.
Yanukovych praised the organization of the 20th session of the CIS Council of Heads of State and suggested that collaboration within the CIS could be improved.
Yanukovych described as positive the conclusion of a free trade agreement within the CIS. "It is very good that you have made this historic decision. This inspires everyone. But we should think about synchronizing our actions on ratifying" this document, he said.
Yanukovych urged Medvedev to take on coordination of this matter.