Russia-Ukraine relations dynamic, have good prospects-Azarov.

KIEV, August 17 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian-Ukrainian relations are
developing dynamically and have good prospects, Ukrainian Prime Minister
Nikolai Azarov said on Tuesday, the government press service reported.
"Trade and economic relations with Russia should be equal, mutually
beneficial, and we should not lose anything in these relations. And if
there is a negative balance, it means losses," Azarov said. He noted that
unfortunately, the trade and economic balance between Ukraine and Russia
is negative, which is due primarily to the increase in gas prices. "We're
overpaying monthly significant sums, of course, it affects the level of
bilateral relations," the prime minister said. He said in this connection
that the Ukrainian side is working to revise the terms of gas supply
contracts. "It is extremely important fro us because it is the outflow of
currency from the country - the reduction of our foreign exchange
reserves," Azarov stressed. He added that the Ukrainian economy so far
covers this imbalance. "It is still possible to tolerate this imbalance
for a year, a year and a half or two years, but we need to negotiate the
terms," the prime minister said.
Earlier, Azarov noted that high gas prices can undermine long-term
cooperation between Ukraine and Russia. "Sooner or later, an unequal
agreement will undermine the foundation of such long-term cooperation," he
said.
"No matter now beneficial the agreement may be for one side at a
certain point in time, the existence such unequal agreement will sooner or
later undermine the foundation of long-term cooperation very seriously,"
Azarov said opening the forum "The second Wave of the Global Crisis and
Prospects for Ukrainian-Russian Economic Relations" in Kiev on August 10.
The prime minister said the current price of natural gas was not a market
one. "We do not need discounts. We need do not need preferences. We want
fairness," he said.