Chernomyrdin on Closeness and Gas Consortium

“Russia will certainly ratify the Agreement on the State Border with Ukraine by March,” said Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin at a February 11 press conference. He began the event by awarding Anatoly Zasukha, Head of the Kyiv Region Administration, and Henrikh Onhirsky, Deputy Chief Designer of the Antonov Aviation Complex, with the Russian Order of Friendship. Mr. Chernomyrdin stated that currently “there are no limitations” on Russian-Ukrainian cooperation. “It is essential for both countries to have a presence in each other’s markets. Ukrainian investors should really consider the Russian market. We are bound by a common technology and this connection should be developed and strengthened on mutually advantageous terms. The solution to social problems leads to the solution to economic problems. People want to see improvements in their life.”

Today people are concerned about possible changes in the procedure of crossing the Russian-Ukrainian border between Russia and Ukraine. Mr. Chernomyrdin assured the press that there will be no changes in the system this year. “Currently, there are about 12 to 16 documents regulating the process of crossing of the border. We are only talking of reducing their quantity. I doubt that international passports will be required to cross the border. After all, many still carry their old Soviet passports,” he said.

When asked by The Day ’s reporter about possible stake sizes of foreign partners in the gas transport consortium, Mr. Chernomyrdin said everything depends “on how much they can afford. The consortium for managing the gas transport system was created by Ukraine and Russia on equal footing. It was agreed from the outset that the consortium will cooperate with the consumer countries. Germany has already agreed to join in. As far as I know, Italy also wants to participate. Today I met with the French ambassador to Ukraine. According to him, leading French companies are showing interest in the consortium.” Mr. Chernomyrdin stressed that “we need to cooperate in such a way as to make the system work. I would like to repeat that Ukraine can only benefit from this cooperation. It is up to the consortium to decide how it should work, who to admit, and on what terms. Notably, it will operate mostly under Ukrainian law.”