The state of affairs in the energy security sector causes great concern. The actions of the Cabinet of Ministers headed by Y.Tymoshenko led again to a crisis in the sphere of gas supply to the country. Recently Ukraine has been on the edge of energy disaster due to decrease in the import gas volumes. There is a considerable threat that the current stabilization will be only a temporary calm-down in this conflict.

Mutual accusations and suspicions, exchanging letters and telegrams with alternative estimations and suggestions threaten to lead the state into a deadlock.

The Opposition Government declares:

For the second time during the last years, in 2004 and 2007, the Government led by V.Yanukovych left his successors a stable and balanced inheritance in the energy sphere. Optimal prices, guaranteed deliveries, balanced work of GTS, that enables gas transit to Europe, payments in time for consumed gas. And each time this inheritance was consciously damaged and the situation escalated into a next 'gas war'. It happened in 2005, it occurs now, in the first quarter of 2008.

We are forced to emphasize again that during 2006-2007, before the BYUT-NUNS coalition came to power and the Cabinet of Ministers led by Y.Tumoshenko was formed, stable gas deliveries were provided for. Neither cut-offs nor financial complications were not committed. Price policy, which prescribed USD 95 in 2006, USD 130 in 2007 and USD 179.5 planned for 2008, was the most optimal one among the European countries – the gas consumers from Russia and Middle Asia. At the end of 2007 year over 30 billion of cubic meters of gas were accumulated in gas-shelters, for 2008 shipments of 55 billion of cubic meters of gas at a price of USD 179.5 per one thousand of cubic meters, the lowest price among the countries of Europe. Besides, Naftogaz national joint stock company was actually released from a threat of bankruptcy originated in 2005 and for the first time during last years has reached profitability level for 9 months in 2007.

The Cabinet of Ministers led by Y.Tymoshenko has initiated 'gas war' within the first two months in order to redistribute gas market, lobby interests of associated businesses, subsequent cooling-off relationships with the Russian Federation.

According to the available information the Tymoshenko Government secretly from the Ukrainian people signed a contract on natural gas supplies at price of USD 321 per cubic meter of gas. It will expose Naftogaz to a threat of bankruptcy and entail steep growth of gas prices in Ukraine.

In this light the Opposition Government states once again: a person should be of great 'talent' to undermine stability so promptly, which was ensured by the Yanukovych Government in late 2007.

The Opposition Government considers such actions of the Cabinet of Ministers as mercenary and dangerous for the state. And that is why it appeals to the General Prosecution of Ukraine to get legal estimation of activity of the Government of Ukraine and Naftogaz in gas sphere.

The Opposition Government appeals to all factions of parties and blocks represented in the Verkhovna Rada, regardless of their belonging either to the coalition or the opposition, with the following points:

1. To ensure efficient parliamentary control over the Cabinet's activity.

We insist on holding the parliamentary hearings on issues of power security and state of affairs in gas sphere, on listening to an appropriate report of the Government, the deputies commission's report, invite the presidential side to the hearings.

With this purpose the Opposition Government suggests to form a specific deputies commission from appropriate parliamentary committees' members to prepare unbiased analysis of state of affairs in gas sphere, to elaborate an appropriate report.

It is necessary to make honest and unbiased estimation of the Government's actions in power sphere, that exposed Ukraine's economic security to new threats, having adopted a proper decision of the Verkhovna Rada on this occasion.

2. The Opposition Government also proposes to elaborate a long-term program of collaboration in the field of energy carriers supply, that would be of lawful validity, to engage independent experts in this work, specialists in public establishments, state corporate sector.

3. We deem necessary to launch regular inter-parliamentary consultations between legislative bodies' deputies of countries-partners in energy carrier shipments - Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. An energy conference of legislators, governmental officials, business representatives and experts from the above-mentioned countries should become a first step (Kyiv should be a host city ).


Voluntarism and speculations concerning 'gas case' will never occur again. The Opposition Government calls all sides for honest estimations and transparency of actions, and offers the Verkhovna Rada proceeding rigid parliamentary control over performance of the Government and executive authorities as a whole.