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Yanukovich to focus on Ukrainian-Turkmen energy cooperation in Ashgabat

Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said that his country discusses the possibility for the resumption of Turkmenistani gas supplies with Russia

KIEV, September 9 (Itar-Tass) —— Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich will make an official visit to Turkmenistan on September 12-13, the presidential press service said on Friday, giving no details pertaining to the program of the visit and an agenda of the upcoming talks.

Last week, Head of the Presidential Administration Sergei Levochkin said that during his trip to Turkmenistan, Yanukovich would discuss all aspects of bilateral cooperation, in particular those in the energy sector.

The key issue is expected to be a possibility of gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Kiev. Ukraine bought natural gas in that Central Asian republic before the beginning of 2006.

The two sides are in a permanent dialog to the effect. In particular, the issue was in the focus during Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Rashid Meredov’s visit to Kiev in August 2011.

During the meeting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said that his country discusses the possibility for the resumption of Turkmenistani gas supplies with Russia.

On September 7, Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuri Boiko stated that Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of gas cooperation with Turkmenistan.

“We continuously hold talks with our Turkmen counterparts. With due account of Turkmenistan’s attempts to diversify gas deliveries, we are ready to discuss this issue. It is very important for us,” Boiko said back then.

In his words, Ukraine’s previous government halted gas import from Turkmenistan at the beginning of 2006, after which “Ukraine remained with only one gas supplier.”