28 May 2010, 18:04
Mykola Tomenko: Ukrainian Society has not decided on the Usefulness of "Naftohaz" and "Gazprom" Merging yet
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, admitted that the Ukrainian society had not decided on the usefulness of merger of Ukrainian "Naftohaz" and Russian "Gazprom" yet.
"The discussion concerning merger of "Naftohaz" and "Gazprom" has lately livened up. However, the public opinion poll conducted by Ukrainske Demokratychne Kolo agency at request of the Institute of Politics on May 14-20, 2010 show that only two fifth of the population (39,4%) hold the opinion that the proposal of Vladimir Putin to merge Russian "Gazprom" and Ukrainian "Naftohaz" do not contradict the national interests of Ukraine. One third of the population (32,9%) supposes that this proposal contradicts the national interests of the country, while 27,7% have not formed their opinion yet", M.Tomenko stated. "Thus, the relative majority of the citizens do not understand economic and geopolitical reasonability of merging these two companies", the Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine concluded.
"The Ukrainian authorities shall understand that the idea suggested by the Russian side can not be implemented without public support and convincing arguments for the benefit of economy and national interests of Ukraine", the Deputy Chairman believes.