Victor Yushchenko has told reporters in Kharkiv his secretariat will analyze all the nuances of last week’s gas deal between Ukraine and Russia so that members of the National Security and Defense Council can formulate a “more intelligible position” on the issue, according to the President`s press-office.

The President insisted that Ukrainians be informed of what happens in the gas market and know how the government sets gas prices. He criticized the gas agreement, declaring that “Ukraine failed to keep the price it gained in 2006.”

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“The statements and promises proved to be more eloquent than abilities, skills and professionalism to keep these promises,” he said.

Mr. Yushchenko is upset that the original five-year price of USD 95 per 1,000 cubic meters had been changed, describing it as a “symptom of unpredictable policies.”

He said he was also worried about the non-transparent price formula, which makes it difficult to forecast future prices.

“If the current price is relative, I think will be the greatest fiasco of the talks,” he said.

He said another failure was that the price had been raised while the transportation tariffs had not. 

“Since the mid-90s the prices of gas and transportation have been paired categories. Unfortunately, now the gas price grows with the lowest tariffs in the European market,” he said.

The status of gas talks is no longer intergovernmental but corporate, he added.

“However, we all understand that gas and oil are political tools,” he said, adding that Ukraine must not pay “the political price.”

Speaking about the current tendencies in the energy market, Mr. Yushchenko stated: “The nation and the country must clearly understand that gas is a limited resource whose price will naturally grow.”

He urged Ukrainians to objectively estimate failures and achievements of the government in this area, substantiating their opinion and trying not to change it.