S Stream might cross Ukraine if controlled by Gazprom - Yazev

MOSCOW, September 18 (Itar-Tass) -- Laying of the South Stream gas
pipeline via Ukraine is possible only if Gazprom or the international
consortium control it fully, and no other variants may be considered,
Deputy Chairman of Russia's State Duma and Head of the Russian Gas Society
Valery Yazev said on Friday.
"The South Stream pipeline is made to exclude risks of transit
countries - and here one of the problems is Ukraine's gas transporting
system," he said. "Years 2006 and 2007 have shown it clearly, as the
transit between Gazprom and Naftogaz was interrupted."
"That is why laying the pipeline via Ukraine would mean making the
same mistake," he added.
Yazev, who supervises energy issues at the lower chamber of the
parliament, said that Yanukovich's initiative "might have been realistic
if it were an international gas pipeline managed by an international
consortium."
"Or if Gazprom were allowed to construct, like, say, via Belarus, a
system of gas pipelines via the territory of Ukraine, where it manages and
owns it," he continued. "Any other options are no serious; they only
increase Ukraine's monopoly, raises risks for smooth supplies of gas from
this country towards Europe."
"For Europe, this would mean risks for its energy security," he
stressed. "That is why this variant, as Yanukovich has voiced it, seems
absurd to me."
Itar-Tass asked Yazev if he takes as realistic a variant, where Russia
obtains the part of Ukraine's gas transporting system, which might have
integrated the South Stream's part. Yazev did not rule out the
opportunity, but stressed it may be possible only if "it is supported by
intergovernmental agreements, if it is ruled by an international
jurisdiction, and if there is Ukraine's good will for it." However, now,
he continued, it is too late to discuss. "We have signed all necessary
papers regarding South Stream, we have a vast package of documents with
involved countries, companies; it is an international project, which may
not depend on moods of the Ukrainian side."
"South Stream will be done in time, as far as I can remember, in late
2015 gas should be delivered to the first line," he added.
Commenting on recent statements from Ukrainian leaders in the context
of their mood and the level of 'constructiveness', Yazev supposed that
"life makes them look for any opportunity to have a constructive dialogue
with Russia, with Gazprom." At the same time, he noted that "we have made
several major suggestions regarding integration of gas systems of Ukraine
and Russia and in fact regarding the gas sectors, /but/ they are rather
not being implemented now." Moreover, "Ukraine has adopted the programme
of the European energy partnership and implements the European Union's
legislation in energy into its own - including /the so called/ third
energy package."
"This impedes a lot the Russia-Ukraine energy cooperation and
hindrances it," Yazev said.