Moldovan premier meets Russia's Gazprom official

Prime Minister Vlad Filat had a meeting with the deputy chairman of the management board of the Russian concern Gazprom, Valeriy Golubev, on 5 February.

Attending the meeting were the head of the management board of the stock company Moldova-Gaz, Genadiy Abaschin, Russian Ambassador to Moldova Valeriy Kuzmin, Moldovan Minister of State Victor Bodiu, Moldova-Gaz director-general Aleksandr Gusev and other officials.

The sides discussed the activity of Moldova-Gaz, in particular the payment of debts and tariff policy, and examined possibilities of overcoming the problems it was facing and of developing cooperation relations aimed at ensuring Moldova's energy security.

Valeriy Golubev confirmed that the main problem faced by Gazprom as main stakeholder of Moldova-Gaz is the one of debts on gas supplied by the Russian company to Moldova. The official specified that the partners from the right bank of the Dniester observe contractual provisions, whereas the Transnistrian side had amassed debts of about two billion dollars.

"We are going to look for solutions both legal and economic in order to overcome the situation created," Golubev said.

The official positively appreciated Gazprom's results in Moldova in terms of gas supplies, noting that the amount of gas supplies fully covers the internal needs. At the same time, he said that the amount of natural gas may be increased in the future.

For his part, Vlad Filat said that the Moldovan government favours a partnership based on very clear and mutually advantageous principles and is willing to ensure adequate conditions for the development of business, including with foreign capital, and to attract new investments into the country's economy.