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Ukraine gas row hits EU supplies
BBC News ^ | 1/01/2006

Posted on 01/01/2006 10:08:49 AM PST by SpikeMike

EU nations have started to feel the impact of Russia's axeing of gas supplies to Ukraine, as Moscow accused Kiev of stealing EU supplies.

Hungary and Poland were the first EU states to have supplies disrupted.

Russia's state-run firm Gazprom cut Ukrainian supplies from the pipelines on Sunday after talks failed to solve a politically-charged price row.

Exports to the EU are carried through the same pipes, and Gazprom now says Kiev is stealing some of that gas.

"There is information that Ukraine has begun siphoning off Russian gas that is designated for European users," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kuprianov was quoted as saying some eight hours after the Ukrainian supply was cut.

Earlier, Ukraine's own state-run gas firm accused Russia of jeopardising Western European supplies.

"Gas is not flowing at all through some transit routes, which can lead to a fall in pressure in all the pipelines and limit the overall supply of gas to Ukraine and Europe," said Eduard Zaniuk, a spokesman for Ukrainian state-run gas giant Naftogaz.

"Naftogaz declares such actions unacceptable because they endanger gas deliveries to Europe."

Ukraine's prime minister has said his country has the right to take 15% of the remaining supplies in the pipelines as payment for transporting the gas to Western Europe.

Europe's Energy Commissioner confirmed the crisis was causing concern, despite previous Russian assurances that EU supplies would not be hit.

"The dispute definitely does not help us and keeps us worried because 20% of our gas supplies go through this route, so if there is a dispute so there are eventualities that could come out," Andris Piebalgs told the BBC.

"So we are not too certain if everything will happen as both sides have promised us."

EU governments are convening a meeting of their gas industry experts in Brussels on 4 January to discuss the crisis.

Some EU countries rely particularly heavily on Russian gas. Germany, for example, gets about 30% of its gas supplies through Ukraine.

Polish concern

In Hungary, gas firm MOL said its supplies from Russia were already down 25%, Reuters news agency reported.

The firm had ordered big consumers to switch to oil from Monday wherever possible, the agency said.

Earlier, Polish gas company PGNiG reported that the amount of gas entering its pipeline system from Ukraine was also down, according to the AFP news agency.

Kiev continues to insist that the loss of Russian supplies - which amount to 30% of its own national consumption - will not hit ordinary Ukrainian consumers during the harsh winter.

However, it has warned that supplies to industry may be affected.

The Ukrainian crisis erupted after Gazprom announced it was quadrupling the price of its gas supplies from $50 to $230 per 1,000 cubic metres.

Ukraine rejected the increase, saying it was prepared to pay a higher price but not on that scale.

Kiev has said it is currently prepared to pay no more than $80 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas.

Many Ukrainians believe Russia is punishing them for their Orange Revolution and the election of Western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko.

Other countries which remain in Russia's sphere of influence continue to receive gas at below-market prices.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: easterneurope; energy; eu; europe; gas; hungary; naturalgas; poland; romania; row; russia; ukraine
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To: RusIvan


Another Putie apologist.
What part of "will sell annually natural gas at the price of 50 US dollars for 1000 cubic meters, which is not subject to change by the parties" don't you understand?


41 posted on 01/01/2006 12:36:56 PM PST by spanalot
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To: A. Pole

"She was organized by the congenital Norman robbers"

Typical Kremlin Mother Goose Marxism - straw man fallacy.


42 posted on 01/01/2006 12:39:15 PM PST by spanalot
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Comment #43 Removed by Moderator

To: spanalot

Another Putie apologist.
What part of "will sell annually natural gas at the price of 50 US dollars for 1000 cubic meters, which is not subject to change by the parties" don't you understand?==

Spanalot common.
You and me know perfectly that it is lie by ommition. Y
ou carefully exclude your citation from context. So the sense is changed. I call it the manipulation. Who you want to deceive? Me?


44 posted on 01/01/2006 12:42:15 PM PST by RusIvan ("THINK!" the motto of IBM)
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To: RusIvan
The Ukranians say:

“During the period between 2005 and 2009 the Customer (Gasprom) will sell annually natural gas at the price of 50 US dollars for 1000 cubic meters, which is not subject to change by the parties, from the gas transportation services of Russian natural gas through the territory of Ukraine to ensure the gas balance of Ukraine.”

One cannot have a constant price for 4 years on one hand (Ukranians say) but have to renegotiate every year for price and delivery (you say Russian contract states).

What will happen is the world will be shown two contracts. Which will be the lie?

45 posted on 01/01/2006 12:45:57 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: vox_PL

So, why the heck, every country in the region hates you so? Why all Russia neighboring countries wanted to enter NATO (now Ukraine) as fast as possible? ==

Vox_PL what do you want form me? How do I know why they "hate Russia" at all? I never heard it form them.
If they hate Russia as you say then I'd say they are stupid nothing more.
I think they probably hate not Russia but thier own mythes and prejudices about her. And they are not grateful people at least.
SO it is their problem not Russia's.

But now we have our mutual problem here. It si insecurity of gas transit = the ukranian thievery.
It is REAL problem which threaten the energy security of Europe.

If we TOGETHER will not make solve it wil not make order along transit pipeline then we BOTH will lose. It is what I know for sure.


46 posted on 01/01/2006 12:49:35 PM PST by RusIvan ("THINK!" the motto of IBM)
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To: VeniVidiVici

What will happen is the world will be shown two contracts. Which will be the lie?==

The citation you showed is not from contact but form addition signed in 2004. The conract was signed in 2001.

the citation given is sniped form context. The matter it belongs to is about last year disapperings 7.8 blns of cubic meters of gas from Ukraine gas storage.
SO they dicided that Ukraine will cover stolen gas by pumping gas in futher yeras for Russia' tansit. That is why such clause.

Ukarnian propagandists today just try to deceive public that this clase about all gas for 4 years. But it is just about already stolen gas in 2004.

Just one thought. WHy if Ukarine has such unpenetrable clause in disposal do not go to arbitrage with it? Because the court is NOT propaganda machine and thier lies will be exposed.


47 posted on 01/01/2006 12:56:13 PM PST by RusIvan ("THINK!" the motto of IBM)
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To: deadmenvote

48 posted on 01/01/2006 1:20:55 PM PST by Lukasz
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To: VeniVidiVici

Russians used to sign only longtime contracts, because they feel that only if they have such contract, they control their customers.


49 posted on 01/01/2006 1:27:08 PM PST by Lukasz
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To: Lukasz; RusIvan; vox_PL

"In Hungary, gas firm MOL said its supplies from Russia were already down 25%. Gas pressure for Poland is down 14% CNN just said."

You know what that means? It's sad but it has to be said, it means Ukraine is stealing gas the western countries (EU countries) are paying for. As for the whole situation it's an obvious blackmail of the Russia govt.


50 posted on 01/01/2006 2:10:10 PM PST by SpikeMike (Even a stopped clock, gives the right time, twice a day....)
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To: SpikeMike

Could be series, what with the Ice Age descending on Europe.


51 posted on 01/01/2006 2:11:50 PM PST by RightWhale (pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
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To: SpikeMike

It's sad but it has to be said, it means Ukraine is stealing gas the western countries (EU countries) are paying for. ==

Exactly. Th egas transit is NOT safe trough Ukraine. Russia and Europe need safer routes. NEP will be the solution of this problem.

STOP NOW UKRANIAN THIEVERY! STOP GAS TRANSIT THROUGH UKARINE!


52 posted on 01/01/2006 2:29:57 PM PST by RusIvan ("THINK!" the motto of IBM)
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To: Cicero
It would take a team of lawyers to go over the fine print on the contracts.

I doubt that such things are in so fine print. Probably it is enough to get the story from each side and compare. It should not be too hard.

I can't do that, and regrettably, the press no longer does its job investigating this kind of story

I am sure there is plenty of sources available. Since we know the Ukrainian government side of the story, could someone provide the Russian explanation, preferably with some details and references?

53 posted on 01/01/2006 2:30:50 PM PST by A. Pole (If the lettuce cutters were paid $10 more per hour, the lettuce head would cost FIVE CENTS more!)
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To: spanalot
"She was organized by the congenital Norman robbers"

Typical Kremlin Mother Goose Marxism - straw man fallacy.

I am not aware of Marx or Marxists being very interested in this topic. I suspect that your response is based on your ignorance of history rather than detailed knowledge of Marxist propaganda..

In 1066 the original English people got subjugated by Normans from Normandy. Normans first settled in Normandy as the result of predatory raids all over north-eastern Europe. Norman means North-man - a type of Viking if it rings the bell for you.

From the time of Norman conquest England became a two class society until now.

54 posted on 01/01/2006 2:37:02 PM PST by A. Pole (If the lettuce cutters were paid $10 more per hour, the lettuce head would cost FIVE CENTS more!)
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To: vox_PL
So, why the heck, every country in the region hates you so?

I was not aware that Russia/Russians are so hated. I think it is your wishful thinking.

55 posted on 01/01/2006 2:39:50 PM PST by A. Pole (If the lettuce cutters were paid $10 more per hour, the lettuce head would cost FIVE CENTS more!)
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Comment #56 Removed by Moderator

To: vox_PL
There are many more things unavailable to fanatic Russia lovers than this.

Hmm. Love is better than hatred.

57 posted on 01/01/2006 2:49:26 PM PST by A. Pole (If the lettuce cutters were paid $10 more per hour, the lettuce head would cost FIVE CENTS more!)
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Comment #58 Removed by Moderator

Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: vox_PL

all that you want to do is to invade Ukraine militarily under this false pretext.==

WHAT?!!! BHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!))

Vox_PL you are quite novelist:). I would say that even me couldn't imagine such thing:)).

What for on earth I need those "hohols"? Let them be somewhere out of here. We in Moscow don't know what to do with illegals and protitutes from Ukraine. Police sent them back but after few days they here again. We don't have visa regime now unfortunately.

Russia are getting richer now. It is very stupid to conquer some millions of eaters which we will need to feed.
We nedd to get rid form them forever and with some more you knwo with whom.
We need money more money. We need them to pay europian price for gas and oil. Nothing more.

Let EU take them and feed them. Give them your subsidies and donations. They like it. We in Russia know it very well.
But please keep them do not give them back to us.

And one more request. Make the order along gas pipeline. Stoip ukarnina thivery or Russia will stop delivery.
Teach them not to steal please. You will do great help to civilization.


60 posted on 01/01/2006 3:08:13 PM PST by RusIvan ("THINK!" the motto of IBM)
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