Ukrainian minister hails gas deal with Russia as 'big victory'
Ukrainian Transportation Minister Mykola Rudkovskyy has said that the agreement with Russia on gas supplies at $130 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2007 is a big victory of Ukrainian diplomacy, Interfax reported on October 25. "We should acknowledge that the price of $130 is a big victory of Ukraine and Ukrainian diplomacy", Rudkovskyy said. He also mentioned that Russia offers gas for 
Belarus at $200 per 1,000 cubic meters and for Poland at $280, adding that the Ukrainian price opens the way for Ukraine's economy to grow by 7 percent or higher. Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary welcomed the Ukrainian-Russian agreement. However, Pawel Zalewski, a politician in the ruling party, noted that gas again "appears to be a political instrument." AM // Copyright (c) 2005. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. RFE/RL
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