OREANDA-NEWS. January 14, 2009. Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, Mirek Topolanek.

During the conversation, the Russian President invited the Czech Republic, which currently presides over the European Union, to participate in the summit to be held in Moscow to discuss problems with supplying gas in transit to Europe. Earlier, the Russian President made the same suggestion to the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and also invited him to Moscow.

Mr. Medvedev noted that in addition to the highest representatives of the European Commission and the Czech Republic, heads of state and government from European countries that consume Russian gas, as well as transit countries, including Ukraine, could also participate in the summit.

The Russian President emphasized that Ukraine continues to not allow Russian transit gas to pass through its gas pipeline system to European consumers, and that this has been recorded by international observers. 

Both parties also agreed to continue to be in touch regarding issues of developing relations between Russia and the European Union overall.

The conversation was initiated from the Russian side.