23 June 2010, 10:00
Ukraine, European Union and Russia shall bear Common Responsibility for Sustainable Energy Supply to Europe, V.Lytvyn
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made this statement in the interview to the European Union Information Website EurActiv, summarizing the official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany on June 16-17, 2010.
Asked whether the EU should be afraid of the Ukrainian gas crisis, V. Lytvyn ascertained that "we have already turned this page." "One can face such situation twice, but for the third time it is impossible. No one will excuse us again", he stated.
The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament stated that Ukraine "should integrate into the European energy community, and Europe should definitely inform the Russian Federation as to the expected amount of gas to receive." "Ukraine, European Union and Russia should bear common responsibility for such situations never to take place", V. Lytvyn emphasised.
Asked about the possibility of merger of Russian "Gazporm" and Ukrainian "Naftogas", V. Lytvyn reminded that his opinion was expressed by V. Putin, Prime Minster of Russia.
Volodymyr Lytvyn emphasised that Ukrainian-Russian relations shall be built on the European principles. "It means that each state possesses the right to express its interests irrespective of the economic potential. Taking into consideration the economic capabilities, we will always stay on the second place, however, there is a principle of the voice equity, so the relations with Russia should be built on it", the Head of the Ukrainian Parliament concluded.