Ukraine, Turkey to discuss LNG-terminal construction issue

News / 13 September 2012 | 17:00

Ukraine and Turkey will discuss the issue of building a liquefied natural gas terminal on the territory of one of the countries, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during the meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, ForUm correspondent reports.

“Today we have given the necessary instructions to our economy ministers on this matter. Our ministers will consider the issue, analyze it, then they will report the results to us and we will take the appropriate decision,” Erdogan said.

In turn, Yanukovych said that the decision on the territory of which country the LNG terminal will be built is still pending.

“Today, the question is not resolved, but the suggestions made by Turkey are very interesting from the point of view of prospects and the channel operation, which today is already overloaded. Therefore, we are grateful for the offer. We will explore both sides of this issue and will soon give the answer to this question,” Yanukovych said.

ForUm

Boiko: Evaluation results of the Ukrainian GTS will be completed in two-three weeks

News / 13 September 2012 | 16:50

Evaluation results of the Ukrainian gas transport system will be available in two-three weeks, energy and coal industry minister of Ukraine Yuri Boiko said.

Answering the question when there will be the evaluation results, Boiko said: “It may be within two or three weeks.”

According to him, Baker Tilly prepares three options of assessment. “Two options have been finished, and one more is at the final stage,” the minister said.

Ukraine initiated an independent evaluation of the Ukrainian gas transportation assets to form a negotiating position on the establishment of a tripartite consortium to manage the GTS with the participation of Russia and the EU. In addition, the evaluation is necessary in the framework of negotiations on attracting of the European investments in the modernization of gas pipelines.

In March, “Naftogaz of Ukraine” chose “Baker Tilly Ukraine” as an evaluator of the GTS at appropriate category. The cost of the auditor accepted by the state holdings amounted to 4.1 million hryvnia (506 thousand dollar). Duff & Phelps from New York and Kyiv division of Ernst & Young also attended the competition.

“Naftogaz” reported that on August 1, 2012, it received from Baker Tilly a report on the valuation of assets of the main pipeline transport of gas in Ukraine including underground gas storage and infrastructure facilities.

ForUm

Boiko: Russian gas price in fourth quarter to be 432 USD

News / 13 September 2012 | 16:38

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the average price of gas, purchased by the Naftogaz under the contract with the Gazprom, will be 432 USD per thousand cubic meters, energy and coal industry minister of Ukraine Yuri Boiko said.

“In the fourth quarter the price will be 432 USD … But we will economize – almost no gas is burned in power now, so we will continue this policy,” Boiko said.

As for the average price for 2013, its calculations are still ongoing, Boiko said. “Currently, we are finalizing calculations … I think that by the end of September we will finish,” the minister said.

Earlier the head of the Naftogaz Yevhen Bakulin forecasted that the weighted average price of gas in the fourth quarter for Ukraine would not exceed 417 USD per thousand cubic meters. In the first quarter, the price was about 416 USD in the second – 425 USD, third – 426 USD.

ForUm

Yanukovych, Erdogan sign joint statement

News / 13 September 2012 | 16:23

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a joint statement following the results of visit of the head of the government of Turkey to Ukraine, ForUm learned from the President’s press office.

In addition, documents for the Intergovernmental agreement on direct international rail-ferry freight communication were signed in the presence of Yanukovych and Erdogan.

The documents provide for the rules of transportation of goods within the international direct rail-ferry freight communication between the ports of Ukraine and Turkey, which have rail service, the rules of operation of freight cars and containers within international direct rail-ferry freight service between the ports of Ukraine and Turkey, which have rail service.

 

ForUm

Turkey to support candidacy of Ukraine for UN Security Council temporary membership

News / 13 September 2012 | 16:11

Turkey is to support the candidacy of Ukraine for temporary membership in the Security Council of the United Nations, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a press conference.

“Certainly, we will support the candidacy of Ukraine for temporary membership in the UN Security Council in 2016-2017,” he said.

In addition, he expressed confidence that Ukraine will support Turkey’s candidacy for a temporary membership in the UN Security Council in 2015-2016.

As a reminder, Ukraine decided to run for non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2016-2017.

Election will be held in autumn 2015, during the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.
Ukraine has been the non-permanent member of the UN Security Council three times already: in 1948-1949, 1984-1985, 2000-2001.

ForUm

Safiullin: Ukraine funded its team fully for Paralympics-2012

News / 13 September 2012 | 16:05

This year, funding of the preparation for the Paralympic Games 2012 in London was the best for all years of Ukrainian independence, chairman of the State Service of Youth and Sports Ravil Safiullin told a press conference on the results of the successful performance of the national Paralympic team of Ukraine at the 14th Paralympic Games in London, ForUm correspondent reported.

“In 2008, 144 million 900 thousand UAH were spent on the preparation, 115 million UAH in 2010 and 293 million 390 thousand UAH this year,” he said.

Saffiulin reminded that Ukraine took part in the Paralympics for the first time in 1996 in Atlanta. “Then Ukraine won one gold medal, in 2000 – 3 gold medals, in 2004 and 2008 – 24 gold medals. And this year we won 32 gold medals.

In addition, Safiullin stressed that Ukrainian athletes set 32 European records, 12 world records and 16 records of the Paralympic Games.

ForUm

Yanukovych wants to deepen Ukrainian-Turkish relations

News / 13 September 2012 | 15:50

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych noted the importance of deepening of Ukrainian-Turkish strategic partnership.

“The expansion of the Ukrainian-Turkish strategic partnership is an important part of overall efforts to promote peace, stability and sustainable social and economic development in the Black Sea region,” President Viktor Yanukovych said at the second meeting of the Ukrainian-Turkish Strategic Council of high-level, held in Kyiv, ForUm learned from the President’s press service.

 

The President noted the high level of mutual support, which exists today between the two countries in the international arena. He also expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of Ukraine and Turkey in the context of our country’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2013.

Yanukovych also noted the significant attention that Ukraine and Turkey pay to talks on a free trade area. “We have discussed this matter in detail with the Prime Minister Erdogan, and we believe that the signing of the Agreement should be held with the highest regard to economic interests of both countries,” he said.

 

The Head of State added that the inter-regional dimension has also great potential for bilateral cooperation. Odessa and Istanbul, according to him, are now the leaders in the process. “I am convinced that the regions of Ukraine and the Turkish provinces should contact more actively, establish direct business relationships. We should approve long-term program on inter-regional cooperation as quickly as possible,” he said.

According to Yanukovych, another important task is successful implementation of the Agreement on direct rail-ferry communication between the ports of Ukraine and Turkey. “I am confident that this Agreement, strengthened by the relevant regulatory documents, will be the basis for future large-scale joint projects,” he said.

 

The head of state also drew attention to the good prospects of bilateral cooperation in the space sector, where significant scientific capacities of Ukraine and Turkey’s ambitious plans to build its own aerospace industry can be effectively combined.

“We also look forward to concrete proposals for cooperation in the military-industrial complex,” he added.
The President called an important step in the development of bilateral relations introduction in August a short-term visa-free travels for citizens of Ukraine and Turkey. “The citizens of our countries have already seen efficiency of this step,” he said.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, in turn, said: “We created the Strategic Council to strengthen our relationship with specific projects. I believe that we will be able to further developing our country due the Council meetings,” he said.

Among the first results of the Strategic Council, Erdogan called the entry into force of the Agreement on the facilitation of border crossing by citizens of the two countries, the positive changes in the free trade area negotiation. “This is an example of results of our work,” he stressed.

Turkish Prime Minister expressed hope that the FTA agreement will be signed before the end of the year. He expected the trade turnover to reach 20 billion dollars by 2015. “I believe that signing FTA agreement will give impetus to the process,” Erdogan summed.

ForUm

Yanukovych wants to fill Ukrainian-Turkish relations with real projects

News / 13 September 2012 | 15:30

Ukraine and Turkey should actively work to fill its bilateral relations with specific projects, beneficial to both countries, President Viktor Yanukovych said at the second meeting of the Ukrainian-Turkish Strategic Council of high-level, held in Kyiv, ForUm learned from the President’s press service.

“We have just finished our meeting with the Prime Minister, at which discussed in detail the entire range of topical issues of bilateral cooperation. We are willing to continue working with members of the Strategic Council,” Yanukovych said.

 

 

The President stressed that recently, the cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey has considerably brightened. “This progress is observed almost in all areas, which are the foundation of our relationship,” he stressed.

According to Yanukovych, the relevant Ministries and agencies have conducted significant work to strengthen, in particular, the economic and trade ties. “Our main task is not only declare, but to really fill our relations with particular project,” he said.

ForUm