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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

OIL CRUMBS FROM A STRANGER’S TABLES They cover very expensive and dangerous requests

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

Among the numerous guests of President Kuchma last Sunday there were two people who are able to solve many Ukrainian problems at one time, some think. They were Azerbaijani President Geidar Aliyev and President of Russian Lukoil Vagit Alekperov.

The latter is interested in developing an oil products retail and wholesale network. He is also interested in getting Ukrainian oil refineries, which are now splitting apart. According to Interfax-Ukraine, Alekperov said his company was ready to invest $150-200 million during 3 years along with to capture 15% to 20% of Ukrainian oil market.

Such a gift should have made President Kuchma anxious, because not once has he acted as an anti-monopoly fighter. But this time the expansion of the “friendly” neighbor was left unnoticed. In response he will apparently receive milder conditions in the contest for Lysychansk oil refinery plant stock. He already has obligations by the Crimean government to grant land for gas stations, oil bases, social objects, and residential housing. In other words, the Crimea will soon be decorated with Russian oil barons’ villas.

The Azerbaijani President also expects gifts in return from his Ukrainian colleague for promising Ukraine participation in the Caspian oil transport project. He actually cared more for reviving the Great Silk Road, but he was also generous with oil promises: “Ukraine will have an opportunity to receive oil through all these lines.”

Meanwhile experts say oil is no longer in shortage in Ukraine. We simply do not have the money to buy it. We could earn this money by transporting Caspian oil to Europe, which would be rather profitable for the Azerbaijani side also. But Aliyev’s vote is no longer the tiebreaker in this question. And he is granting gifts to Ukraine, which are actually nothing but the request to buy his oil.

Fortunately, this is not in the President’s jurisdiction. But we can sell it cheaply.

 

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