The process of resuming delivery of Russian natural gas to Europe hasbeen filled with doubt and contradictions, raising questions about whenEuropean consumers will finally see a renewed flow of supplies.
Russianand Ukrainian acceptance of a European Union proposal to allowobservers to monitor Ukraine's pipeline system has been anon-again-off-again process. Gas officials in Kyiv and Moscow initiallyconfirmed that EU and Russian observers would be allowed to check gasflows through Ukraine and the presidents of both countries alsosignaled their approval.
But the Interfax news agency quotes asource close to the Russian government as saying the Ukrainian side isonce again casting doubt on the makeup of a multilateral monitoringgroup. Earlier, Russia's Gazprom state energy monopoly issued astatement on its Web site claiming that Ukraine had disrupted theprocess of signing a protocol to authorize a multilateral monitoringcommission.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev insists the monitoring may not proceed without a written agreement.
Thepress center at Ukraine's Naftohaz gas company says its spokesman,Valentyn Zemliansky, was in a briefing from mid-afternoon and would notbe available until Saturday.
However, in remarks on Tuesday, Zemliansky told VOA that Ukraine welcomes monitors.
Zemlianskysays if truly legitimate representatives make the request, Ukraine isprepared to let them into their monitoring stations. He saysUkrainians have nothing to hide. The spokesman notes that Westernobservers were already in Russia, adding it would be interesting tohear what they have to say about the volumes that were being pumpedfrom Russia to Ukraine.
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek,whose country recently assumed the EU presidency, is expected todiscuss the monitoring with leaders in Kyiv and Moscow.
Meanwhile,senior gas company officials for both countries are questioning thecredentials of each other's representatives to suspended contracttalks. In a televised meeting with President Dmitri Medvedev at awinter resort near the city of Sochi, Gazprom Chairman Alexei Millersaid the Ukrainian side does not appear ready to sign a contract.
Millersays there is an impression that the Ukrainian negotiators have nomandate and no authority to discuss the price and volume of gas for2009. The negotiations, he says, are basically empty.
Thewording of a statement by Miller's Ukrainian counterpart, Naftohaz'sOleh Dubyna is remarkably similar. Dubyna also refers to an impressionthat the Russian negotiating team has no authority or mandate to signany contracts with Naftohaz. He adds that the Russia side appearsunprepared to continue the negotiating process.
Europe has beenthe innocent bystander in the standoff between Moscow and Kyiv, whichcomes during an unusually cold winter on the continent. Germany,France and Poland report significant gas cutbacks. Supplies werehalted altogether in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Croatia,Serbia and Turkey. Russia accuses Ukraine of closing pipeline valvesfor European consumers and stealing gas for itself. Ukraine denies thecharge and accuses Russia of stopping delivery at its border withUkraine.
Europe will see a resumption of gas with the signing ofthe gas monitoring protocol, which is separate from any contractsbetween Ukraine and Russia. However, a European Union spokesman saysit will take three days to get the system in full working order.