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Russia set to resume European gas supplies after deal
2009-01-11
MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia and Ukraine prepared Sunday to restart gas supplies to the European Union after a deal was signed on deploying international monitors to help resolve the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. The stage was set for a resumption of supplies by the EU's largest foreign gas provider Russia after shuttle-diplomacy by Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek secured both sides' agreement on sending monitors to prevent foul play in the transit system. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier said supplies to the EU could resume "immediately" after monitoring began, although he warned Ukraine that Moscow "will not tolerate theft" of its gas. The Russian newspaper Kommersant said an end to the cut-off was in sight but predicted EU states would in future unite to lessen dependence on Russian gas, meaning a resurgence of nuclear power and turning to other gas sources in North Africa and Central Asia. "From tomorrow, Gazprom's gas transit to the European Union could be renewed and the gas war will return to being a propaganda one," Kommersant said. "The EU will undoubtedly try to find ways of reducing dependence on Russian gas supplies and avoiding such crises in future," the paper said, predicting a push to develop a proposed pipeline from Central Asia known as "Nabucco". In Brussels, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the deal and called for supplies to be resumed quickly. "This should now finally allow the resumption of gas supplies from Russia to the EU.... There are many EU citizens at risk without gas supply and this situation has gone on for far too long," said Barroso. After Moscow and Kiev had signed the deal, Czech Trade and Industry Minister Martin Riman said it would be possible for Russian gas flows to the EU to resume later on Sunday, although EU officials have said it could take three days to restore gas supplies to full volume. Topolanek, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, said deployment of the monitors would happen in "a matter of hours". The gas crisis has taken a heavy toll on a dozen states, notably in central Europe and the Balkans, leaving thousands of homes in several countries without heat and forcing factories, schools and public facilities to close. The text of the accord provides for the EU, Russia and Ukraine to each provide 25 experts to "carry out checks on the basis of equal parity both on Ukrainian and Russian territory," according to the Ukrainian presidency. The monitors will carry out checks at five sites in each of the two countries, the presidency said, without specifying a timeframe. While Ukraine has denied Russian charges of stealing gas bound for the EU, the system is notorious for a lack of transparency and the involvement of shady middlemen with links to political circles on both sides. Although the accord was expected to lead to a quick resumption of gas flows to the EU, it did not resolve the bilateral dispute between Russia and Ukraine at the origin of the crisis. Russia cut supplies to the domestic Ukrainian market on January 1 after the failure of talks on payment for gas supplies to Ukraine delivered in November and December and on about half a billion dollars in fines for late payment. Onward supplies to the EU via Ukraine were gradually reduced, with Putin ordering a full stop on Wednesday. The crisis has highlighted the EU's dependence on the Soviet-built gas transit network through Ukraine for a large part of the bloc's gas needs -- as well as divisions on how to overcome this. At issue in the accord between Russian and Ukrainian leaders -- each side negotiating from their separate capitals -- was the composition of the monitoring team and Ukrainian concerns it would have a Russian bias. Kommersant noted that unlike in previous gas disputes with Ukraine, Putin had overtly been in charge of Russian decision-making, with state gas officials clearly doing his bidding and President Dmitry Medvedev in a marginal role.
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 Russia, Ukraine to sign gas deal, end standoff (2009-01-19) | | New Russia, Ukraine gas accord leaves Europe dubious (2009-01-18) | | Russia, Ukraine clinch deal to resume Europe gas supplies (2009-01-17) | | Russia, EU, Ukraine set for gas talks (2009-01-16) | | Russian gas cutoff energizes nuclear comeback (2009-01-16) | | Last chance for Moscow, Kiev to show they are serious: EU (2009-01-16) | | Russia-Ukraine gas war deadlock (2009-01-15) | | Crisis deepens as Russia-Ukraine gas deal unravels (2009-01-14) | | Russia and Ukraine may meet over gas dispute (2009-01-14) | | Ukraine leader accuses Russia of 'blackmail' over crisis (2009-01-13) | | Russia, Ukraine trade blame as Europe sees no gas (2009-01-13) | | Russia to restart gas pumps to Europe on Tuesday (2009-01-12) |  Russia set to resume European gas supplies after deal (2009-01-11) | | EU monitors deploy to end Russian gas deadlock (2009-01-11) | | Russia and EU sign deal on gas transit via Ukraine (2009-01-10) | | Putin warns Europe gas crisis "worsening" (2009-01-10) | | Gazprom may resume gas shipments to Europe today (2009-01-09) | | EU leader to meet Putin amid efforts to resolve gas dispute (2009-01-09) | | Russia to pump gas to Europe if monitors are there (2009-01-08) | | Russia, Ukraine in EU talks as gas crisis engulfs Europe (2009-01-08) | | Thaw in the air as Russia-Ukraine gas crisis talks begin in Brussels (2009-01-08) | | Halt in Russian gas supplies to Europe deepens crisis (2009-01-07) | | EU: Russia, Ukraine accept monitors in gas dispute (2009-01-07) | | Gas shortages spread as Russian-Ukraine row flares (2009-01-06) | | Natural gas shortages slam many European nations (2009-01-06) |
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