Price of natural gas for 2007 will not increase significantly - Zinaida Grecianii

The price of natural gas for 2007 will not be significantly increased compared with the present one, deputy prime minister Zinaida Grecianii assured after the signing on Monday, December 18 the protocol of the joint Moldovan-Russian commission in Moscow, November 27. At the same time, Grecianii mentioned that the price of natural gas delivered by the Russian concern “Gazprom” will increase gradually in order to even it up to the average European price by 2011. Andrei Fursenco, co-president of the joint intergovernmental Moldovan-Russian commission for economic cooperation stated that the prices in Russia will also rise in the next 5 years towards attaining the European level, in conformity to a program of liberalization of prices for gas and electric power. “It is obvious, that we will sell our production for European prices in Russia as well as in the rest of the world, but our purpose is to create certain conditions, in this particular case for the successful development of the Moldovan economy” Fursenco said During the press conference on the finalization of the protocol of the joint commission it was also announced that the new contract on the gas supply and the price for 2007 will be signed till December 28. Zinaida Grecianii mentioned on the issue of resuming exports of agricultural and wine production that everything depends on working out export mechanisms by services in charge, being established that the exports will be operated on the single-desk principle. The official expressed her belief that “this will not last long, because things changed after the presidents’ meeting”. Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev also had a meeting with Andrei Fursenco. During the meeting, parties appreciated the progress achieved lately in overcoming obstacles in bilateral relations. According to Fursenco, new relations of a long-term partnership will be established this year, concerning proposals of mutual interest.