France Expresses Interest In Gas Consortium

The management of Gaz de France has submitted proposals for its participation in the project to create an international gas transport consortium. According to Interfax-Ukraine, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych made a statement to this effect at a May 28 news conference in Paris. According to him, the French side has submitted its proposals in writing. Mr. Yanukovych did not specify the terms offered by the French side for its participation in this project: “We will have an answer to this question when everything has been worked out.” According to him, Italy has also expressed interest. Another issue discussed during the Paris talks was that of the An-70 aircraft. According to premier’s press secretary Taras Avrakhov, this issue was raised during the premier’s meeting with France’s Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industry, Francis Mer. Ukraine has invited France to participate jointly with Germany in the project to build a military transport version of the An-70 aircraft. The An-70 aircraft will be on display at the Le Bourget Aerospace Show this June. As Premier Yanukovych told a closing news conference, during his meeting with the French minister they discussed France’s participation in the privatization of Ukraine’s energy and aerospace sectors, as well as the hotel and tourist business. “We understand that we must create a system to attract investment and a favorable investment climate,” said Premier Yanukovych. He further stated that specific proposals should be worked out before the Ukraine- France Commission for Bilateral Economic Cooperation meets this October. The Paris talks also addressed the issue of France’s and, in particular, Euroatom’s participation in financing the completion of the Rivne and Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plants. As part of his working visit to Paris, Premier Yanukovych also met with Cochairman of the French National Assembly Jean Louis Debre and celebrated fashion designer Pierre Cardin.