Gazprom may accept Ukraine`s proposal for pipeline consortium.

INSTANBUL, February 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's gas giant Gazprom may
accept Ukraine's proposal for participation in a future gas pipeline
consortium, but the construction of two gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine -
the North Stream and the South Stream - will be continued accordance with
the plan.
"At a certain point the gas consortium was created, but during
Yushchenko's rule that work was curtailed," Gazprom's Deputy CEO Alexander
Medvedev, who also holds the post of Gazprom's export division,
Gazpromexport, told the Russia Today television news channel during his
visit to Turkey. "However, we have taken note of Mr. Yanukovich's
statement he would like to bring this idea to the forefront again. It
remains to be seen what format the proposal for such a project may take."
"In any case the construction of South Stream and Nord Stream will be
continued, because there is no alternative to diversifying gas export
routes. Nord Stream will begin to be laid in April. And South Stream is
expected to start delivering gas in 2015," he said.
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