Following the announcement that Gazprom and Naftogaz have reached an agreement on the supply of gas by Russia and its transit via the Ukraine, leader of the Rodina (Motherland) party Dmitry Rogozin expressed his delight. "Everyone had benefited from the settlement of the problem in the energy sector because it was an issue of national security," he was quoted as saying.
Rogozin's comments were similar to those expressed Wednesday by the European Union. Mr. Bartenstein, Austrian Federal Minister for the Economy and Labor, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and Mr. Piebalgs, Commissioner for Energy and Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations, have all welcomed the fact that the appeals from the EU to the two parties to settle their dispute have "had a swift and positive response." "The EU welcomes that the Parties have taken account of the importance placed by the Union on the maintenance of their role as secure long-term suppliers of natural gas to the EU."
