By Oleksa PIDLUTSKY, The Day
Ukraine is categorically denying Russian Gazprom chairman Rem Viakhirev's
accusation about Ukraine's allegedly "illegal disposal" of over 2.5 billion
cubic meters of natural gas from transit and other pipelines last December.
"I am stating absolutely responsibly that Ukraine did not take over
without permission even a single cubic meter of Russian gas in December,"
first deputy chairman of Naftohaz Ukrainy (Oil & Gas of Ukraine) Company
Taras Freniuk told Interfax.
Mr. Viakhirev sent his telegrams of complaint to Ukrainian Prime Minister
Valery Pustovoitenko and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Oleksandr Tkachenko. The
Russian monopolist charged the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with "squandering
gas" and even "purposeful actions to destabilize relations between Gazprom
and the all-European gas market."
Breaking all the rules of business negotiations, Mr. Viakhirev handed
over the text of the telegram to Moscow's Nezavisimaya gazeta which
published it last Tuesday.
Mr. Freniuk stressed that the telegram "was worded in a very rude terms."
The truth is Ukraine had signed contracts with Gazprom on all quantities
of the imported gas, while a portion of gas consumed in December was taken
from her own reserve gas-holders.
Also far from he truth is Mr. Viakhirev's claim that Ukraine's gas debt
to Gazprom is now $1.6 billion. As of January 1, 1999, the state-run Ukrhazprom
Co. owed $734.5 million for Russian natural gas, while the share of Ukrainian
commercial structures was $347.7 million as of December 20, 1998. However,
Mr. Freniuk emphasized, the Ukrainian government is not responsible for
the latest debts incurred as a result of the actions of private companies.
Moreover, under an agreement between the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia,
this country may supply various goods as repayment of up to $1-billion
1998 gas debts. In fact, these supplies have already begun.






