RF, Ukraine can find compromise gas price with political willpower

KIEV, May 2 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia and Ukraine can find a compromise in
a gas price formula with the political willpower, Ukrainian Prime Minister
Nikolai Azarov told live on the Ukraina television channel here on Sunday.
Naftogaz Ukrainy buys gas from Gazprom.
"I am convinced that in case of political willpower and the Russian
leadership has it, we will find a compromise," he said.
"When the world oil price was relatively low, the gas price for
Ukraine was relatively acceptable with due account of a discount gas price
under the Kharkov agreements," Azarov elaborated. Currently when the oil
price almost doubled Russia raised an oil export duty and the gas price
for Ukraine "is becoming absolutely unacceptable, even under the Kharkov
agreement," Nikolai Azarov said.
"Right now we showed to Russia that Ukraine buys gas under the
Timoshenko formula much more expensively than Germany and Poland. Is it
normal? Is it within our strategic partnership?" the Ukrainian prime
minister stated.
Alongside, he expressed confidence that Ukraine will succeed to reach
agreement with Russia to change the gas price formula without any court
proceedings.
"I would say it is a measure of last resort to institute court
deliberations and file lawsuits in the relations with the partners. We are
inclined to negotiate," the premier noted. He recalled that "the first
constructive result of these negotiations was already achieved" after the
recent Moscow visit of Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuri
Boiko.
"After the May holidays we expect a reciprocal visit. We will not
delay these issues," Azarov underlined.