Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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January 11, 2009

Russia Set to Resume European Gas Supplies
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2181440:A6F02AD83191E160AB07D276D56E2FB63CF5CDEF8FC051DA&
 
New agreement permits European, Russian and Ukrainian experts to measure
the flow of Russian gas through Ukrainian pipelines 
Russia, Ukraine and the European Union have struck a deal that should
clear the way for the resumption of Russian natural gas supplies through
Ukraine to Western Europe. A gas pressure gauge is seen at a
snow-covered transit point on the main pipeline from Russia in the
village of Boyarka, near Kyiv, Ukraine (File)The agreement, signed
Sunday, permits European, Russian and Ukrainian experts to measure the
flow of Russian gas through Ukrainian pipelines. However, Ukraine says
it could take until Tuesday to rebuild adequate pipeline pressure for
gas to reach the West. Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine January first,
in a dispute over pricing and transit fees. Moscow later shut down the
pipeline system, after accusing Ukraine of stealing gas meant for
Western Europe. The state-run Russian utility Gazprom said today it was
still waiting to receive a copy of the document signed by Ukraine, to
assure it is the same text that Russian and EU officials signed on
Saturday. The Kremlin insisted that there be a written agreement on the
monitoring mission, as a way of ensuring that all the gas meant for
Western Europe reaches its destination and is not siphoned by Ukraine.
Gazprom supplies one-quarter of all natural gas consumed by EU
countries. Most of that gas is piped through Ukraine. In related
developments, Ukraine says it will supply natural gas to Bulgaria and
Moldova from its own reserves, to help two countries left largely
without heat since Wednesday. Also, Slovakia said it will begin
reopening a Soviet-era nuclear reactor to offset shortages from the
Russian gas cut-off. Slovakia declared a state of emergency Tuesday over
fears of a power blackout. Slovakia had shut down the generator in the
Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear plant as part of its agreement to enter the
European Union. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP
and Reuters.


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