EU “demands” that Russia deliver gas

[bridgit]

'The European Union has called for the immediate resumption of gas supplies to Europe. In a joint statement, the new Czech EU Presidency and the European Commission said they demanded that gas delivery be restored.

They said the EU would “intensify the dialogue” between Moscow and Ukraine, to ensure they come to an agreement fast.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, in Prague, presenting his country’s programme for the EU presidency over the coming six months, said: “We see energy security as one of our main priorities. We want to take steps towards more diversification of supply lines and structures, and the interlinking of grids and networks… to bring new elements into the energy mix.”

The Czechs’ priorities – economy, energy and external relations – all apply to the Russia-Ukraine affair, with several countries feeling the Gazprom noose.

The Czech Republic is the first country formerly dominated by the Soviet Union to preside over the Council of the European Union.'

http://www.euronews.net/en/article/06/01/2009/eu-demands-that-russia-deliver-gas/

[xchrom]

1. russia is getting what russia intended.

the eu will soon see that acting tough with russia is a toothless affair.

[bridgit]

2. the valve is on russia's end, they've closed it and smirked before

i don't see any of it as a positive sign. welcome to 2009? what a shrieking mess already

[xchrom]

3. you nailed it. nt

[The2ndWheel]

4. Or what?

[bridgit]

5. pistols at dawn i guess, russia's issue is still with ukraine, accusing them of siphoning

russian product. capitalism may be a cruel mistress...but when dispensed by a cruel mistress herself it seems to me all bets are off. if i were russia, i'd have already built a pipeline round ukraine and put a head-gate, like they do in a river or on a stream; to give to ukraine just what they thought they had coming then let the rest go to others more willing to pay & play

[FarCenter]

6. They are planning a direct Russia to Germany pipeline under the Baltic Sea

This avoids the need to pay transit fees to Poland or Ukraine.

Ukraine is clearly in the wrong since it is not honoring its contract to transport gas from Russia to the Central European countries. The transport contract did not expire.

The contract between Russia and Ukraine to buy Russian gas for Ukrainian consumption did expire. Ukraine is unwilling to pay the asking price, which was very reasonable and a lot less than the EU customers are paying. But Ukraine has a totally incompetent government and the economy is in a shambles.

[bridgit]

9. Sounds like quite the project but yeah, the current system seems designed for calmer times...

Those days are clearly gone

[JVS]

7. How do you say "Go fuck yourself!" in Russian?

[Deja Q]

8. This?

Пойдите трахают себя!

:hide:

[bridgit]

10. .......

:thumbsup: