Germany, Ukraine Discuss Merging in Russian-Ukrainian Gas Consortium

A delegation from the German Ruhrgas AG Essen concern arrived in Kiev on December 21 to work out a program of the company's joining the Russian-Ukrainian gas consortium. According to the press service of the government of Ukraine, Dr. Burckhard Bergmann, Chairman of the Executive Board of Ruhrgas; Axel Gerlach, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology; and Mr. Udo Weinhard, a special representative of German government will meet with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, representatives from the Ministry of Fuel and Energy, and Ukrainian parliamentarians.

The German concern is expected to join the Russian consortium early in January 2003. At this time, German analysts are considering their possible associative participation in the project. According to certain sources, German government remains doubtful as to a full-scale merger.