January 2 Victor Yushchenko met with Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov,
NSDCU Secretary Anatoly Kinakh, Vice-Premier Stanislav Stashevsky, Energy
Minister Ivan Plachkov, Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, Economy Minister
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Deputy Secretariat Chief-of-Staff Anatoly Matviyenko,
Naftogaz Deputy Chairman Ihor Voronin and Ukrtransgaz Chairman of
the Board Roman Shymko.
During the meeting, he said Ukraine was transiting gas to
Europe without interruption by reducing its domestic consumption, President's press office informed.
“Having received no cubic meter of Russian gas for transit
since January 1, Ukraine today decided to shoulder the transit of gas to Western
Europe,” he noted.
Yushchenko added that at the meeting with ambassadors of
the EU, USA and Japan he asked them to tell their leaders that “Ukraine is
fulfilling its commitments as a civilized country to preserve our good
relations.”
Yuriy Yekhanurov informed the President on the situation caused
by Russia’s reduction in gas supplies. The Premier said at today’s meeting with
the governors he had been told “the situation is really tense” and added that
all regions would try to consume gas sparingly.
Anatoly Matviyenko said they had established a governmental
press center to inform the people on the gas issue twice a day. Yushchenko
reiterated that media coverage of the conflict was really important.
“We will win if we present our arguments transparently,” he
said.
The Head of State insisted that it was expedient to make each
state institution reduce gas consumption for the sake of Ukraine’s national
interests.
Energy experts said Ukraine guaranteed to transit gas to
Europe in accordance with the long-term contract between Ukraine and Russia.
