Ukraine is interested in the resumption of direct gas supplies from Kazakhstan, as it received before 2005, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said at a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev in Kyiv on Tuesday.
“We are committed to expanding cooperation in the use of transport, including the pipeline transport. I think that Kazakhstan is also interested in this, as it has sufficient reserves of gas and oil, and it could trade with us not only through the Russian Federation, but also directly, as it was before 2005. This will be in the interests of both countries,” he was quoted as saying on his Web site.
Azarov said that the creation of a free trade area between CIS countries envisages the signing of an agreement on free access to the pipeline transport of CIS countries and thus creates opportunities for direct deliveries of Kazakh oil and gas to Ukraine.
Azarov said that the creation of the Customs Union, which includes Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, had complicated trade and economic relations within the CIS and, therefore, now it is necessary to develop new mechanisms for cooperation.
He also reiterated that Ukraine wants to obtain observer status in the Customs Union.
“This will help us not influence, but participate in decision-making and at least know in advance about the issues that are to be taken in the Customs Union,” Azarov said.
