Rossiyskaya Gazeta: "Champagne with gas"
Russia and Ukraine discuss economic cooperation
On Wednesday Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a one-day trip to Kiev to hold talks with Ukrainian leaders and to conduct a meeting of the economic cooperation committee of the Russian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission.
Having thanked the working group for preparing the committee’s meeting, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich expressed the hope that both parties would find constructive solutions during the discussion. This is what we always do, he noted.
“I’m happy to note that the proposals of the working group are aimed at integrating our economies,” Mr Yanukovich switched to the main point. He listed industries in which integration is possible – the aircraft industry, shipbuilding, the fuel-and-energy complex and science-intensive technology. “We’ll have enough topics to discuss today,” he said, addressing Mr Putin. Having registered progress in implementing the treaty on bilateral economic relations until 2020, the Ukrainian leader made it clear that he counts on a large contribution from the Russian government to this work.
“Indeed, the preparations were thorough,” Mr Putin responded. But they would have been meaningless if Mr Yanukovich had not created a completely new atmosphere of trust and a desire to cooperate, Mr Putin said, repaying the compliment.
As it happens with partners, the work was not easy. But the main thing is that as a result of the new Ukrainian leader’s policy towards Russia, “the political approach is transforming into economic results.” The latter is best illustrated by trade – it grew 77% from January to September, practically reaching the pre-crisis level.
After a long conversation with Mr Yanukovich, Mr Putin held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Nikolai Azarov, which were closed to the press. Then the prime ministers held a meeting of the economic cooperation committee of the Russian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission. “We intend to further intensify our trade and economic cooperation,” Mr Azarov said. His estimate of the range of cooperation was even higher than Russia’s. He said trade had increased 84% in eight months. Recalling the Kharkov agreements on the reduction of Russian gas prices, he said in a shivering voice that they had “removed the tension.”
“We are reaching agreements on complicated projects, such as joint production of aircraft and ships, the GLONASS system and the construction of a bridge over the Kerch Strait. These projects will bring millions in profit to our countries and create thousands of jobs.” “The main thing is that we have embarked on this road and are following it without hesitation,” Mr Azarov emphasized.
Mr Putin noted that the agenda included a wide range of bilateral issues providing many opportunities for cooperation. “We have stabilized our energy relations,” he summed up. Mr Putin observed that today the quality of trade was even more important than its volume. Apparently, this was his way of saying that the discrepancy in figures was not important.
Mr Putin urged Ukraine to focus on high-tech cooperation – in the nuclear power industry, in aircraft and ship building, and in space exploration, in all areas where cooperation is possible. “We are interested in consolidating cooperation on our current projects and in launching new ones,” Mr Putin added.
The committee produced documents that were signed yesterday in the presence of the prime ministers. The package includes several governmental agreements including cooperation in sea and air search and rescue operations on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, on interregional and border cooperation between the two countries, and a memo on cooperation in shipbuilding. Other signed documents include a memo on cooperation between the Ukrainian government and the TNK-BP group of companies on exploration and production of gas in the tight sands of the Donetsk area, an agreement between Nuclear Fuel, a Ukrainian state company and TVEL, a Rosatom fuel company, on cooperation in launching reactor fuel production in Ukraine and an agreement between the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and the Antonov state company, as well as a separate contract between the UAC, Antonov and Vnesheconombank (VEB).
Kira Latukhina
