OREANDA-NEWS. On March 26, 2009 Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko declared Ukraine is ready to cooperation with the other countries of the world, including with Russia in modernization and reconstruction of the gas transport system of Ukraine. She announced in her speech at the forum of political and scientific elite of Japan.

As Yulia Tymoshenko put it, the GTS of Ukraine through many years has remained a main gas artery for Europe and necessitates urgent modernization and reconstruction. The Head of Government emphasized for now European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank and World Bank are ready to be the partners of Ukraine in the issue of modernizing of the GTS.

The Premier added during the Brussels conference, which resulted into signing of the declaration with the Eurounion on modernization and reconstruction of Ukrainian GTS, the Russian party was not a signatory to this document. At the same time, according to Yulia Tymoshenko, she personally and the President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso declared this project is open for participation of the other parties, including Russia but on the only condition: the gas transport system of Ukraine will remain the property of the country.

“I am convinced within nearest time misunderstandings between Ukraine and Russia in this issue will be removed and Russia will become a participant of this process,” the Prime Minister emphasized.