No need yet to trigger early warnings mechanism with EU over Ukrainian gas - Shmatko
MOSCOW. Sept 7 (Interfax) - The Russian Energy Ministry sees no need yet to activate the early warnings system with the European Union over potential problems with the transit of Russian gas in light of the latest disputes with Ukraine.
I don't yet see any need to activate the early warning system," Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko told reporters.
After the gas spat in 2009, Russia and the European Union created an early-warning mechanism to anticipate any possible transit disruption.
Kyiv has been trying for the last 18 months to renegotiate the to 11-year gas contracts that it signed in January 2009, pushing for a reduction in the price of gas and guaranteed transit volumes.
Russia insists that the contracts are honored. The sides have stepped the rhetoric up in the past week.
