Ukraine Rejects Turkmen Claims Over Gas Debt

Gas relay station outside Kyiv (file photo) (epa)

21 February 2006 -- Ukraine has rejected recent Turkmen accusations that it owes Turkmenistan millions of dollars in gas debts.

Turkmenistan says Ukraine owes it nearly $160 million for gas supplies. It says Ukrainian officials' failure to address the issue at talks in Ashgabat on 17-18 February could hamper future cooperation between Turkmenistan and Ukraine in gas supplies.

Oleksiy Ivchenko, the head of Ukraine's state Naftohaz oil and gas company, today said Ukraine has been duly paying for gas supplies and has no debts to Turkmenistan. He suggested the complaints were linked to Turkmenistan's attempts to raise gas prices.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk said Turkmenistan was making the accusations because it is unwilling or unable to meet its gas-supply obligations.

Gas from Turkmenistan is part of a deal reached between Russia and Ukraine after Russia suspended gas supplies to Ukraine on 1 January.

(Interfax-Ukraine, UNIAN)