Phone conversation between Ambassador Jones, Deputy Executive Director and Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Hrihoriy Nemyria

During a cordial exchange of views today with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Hrihoriy Nemyria, IEA Deputy Executive Director Richard H. Jones expressed his regret that remarks in a recent press interview could be interpreted to mean that Ukraine had outstanding debts to Russia for gas imports in 2009, which was not his intent. The Deputy Executive Director said that he was encouraged that Ukraine had been able to meet its payments for deliveries of gas in 2009, and hoped that this would continue indefinitely. For its part, the IEA stands ready to work with Ukraine in promoting energy sector reform and energy efficiency, in particular, and the Deputy Prime Minister invited Ambassador Jones to visit Kyiv later in 2009 to further cooperation between Ukraine and the Agency .<sup>*



*</sup>The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the International Energy Agency signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in December 2007 which covers a wide range of energy issues, including energy efficiency, security, information and statistics, the environment, emergency preparedness, investment and technology research. The IEA also completed in 2006 a wide-ranging review of Ukrainian energy policy.