Putin, Merkel suggest sending independent experts to Ukraine

BERLIN. January 17. KAZINFORM Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel have suggested sending independent experts to Ukraine in order to choose the best ways for gas transit and to prevent possible stealing of gas.

?Gazprom says that Ukraine is technically capable of transporting our gas to the Balkans. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian state company says there is no such possibility. The argument may last forever,? Putin told a Friday press conference. ?So, we ask our European partners to form an independent expert group and to send it to Ukraine in order to choose the optimum transit routes and put an end to stealing,? he noted. ?We know that Ukraine has retargeted its pipeline network and takes gas for domestic consumers from storages on the western border. They claim that the domestic supply will impede the exports. First of all, this is the problem of the transit country. They have altered their system, let they restore it,? Putin said. ?Nevertheless, we do not want to put Ukraine in a difficult position,? he remarked. ?Mrs. Federal Chancellor and I agreed that it would be right to form an international expert group, which will check out the technical condition of Ukrainian gas pipelines and find the best transit routes. I hope very much that this mechanism will be formed as soon as possible. Today Russia again applied for pumping gas towards the Balkans. The appeal was declined once again,? Putin said. Merkel said that the monitors could be deployed alongside the whole transit route. ?Mr. Prime Minister and I discussed the deployment of monitors alongside the entire route. The monitors are ready to start their mission,? Merkel said. ?It is necessary to install monitors so that they watch the transit progress?, Kazinform cites ITAR-TASS.