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Gas transport consortium with Russia to be beneficial for Ukraine - opinion

Such a consortium, in his words, will make it possible to get “cheaper gas and to increase cost efficiency of Ukrainian companies”

KIEV, May 25 (Itar-Tass) - A Russian-Ukrainian consortium for the management of the Ukrainian gas transport system will be in Kiev’s interests, first deputy speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, or Ukraine’s parliament, Igor Kaletnik said in an interview with the Zerkalo Nedeli weekly published on Saturday.

Such a consortium, in his words, will make it possible to get “cheaper gas and to increase cost efficiency of Ukrainian companies.”

According to Kaletnik, the communist party, which he represents, is ready to support the decision to set up such a consortium but on condition that “a mechanism is provided to keep the Ukrainian gas transport system in the ownership of the state.”

“Undoubtedly, we must be guided solely by the interests of our stat. The communist party has officially voiced its position - state assets are to remain in state ownership,” he stressed.

In his words, there are “very many questions” to the governmental bill allowing the privatization of the gas transport system. The issue, he stressed, should be put for nationwide discussion.

“We must answer the questions why Ukraine is resorting to this measure, what it will yield for the people, for the economy, and only after that we shall take a consolidated, economically justified decision, which cannot be politically motivated in any event,” he emphasized.

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