Update: EU To Pressure Russia To Resume Gas Transshipment

January 12, 2009 11:48 a.m. EST

Brussels, Belgium (AHN) - Energy ministers of the European Union have slated a meeting in Brussels to address the natural gas delivery problem plaguing the continent.

Czech Energy Minister Martin Riman said the ministers will pressure Russia to resume gas deliveries since Moscow's condition to lift the ban on deliveries has been met.

The crisis has encouraged EU members to help one another. Hungary is sharing some of its natural gas to EU applicant state Serbia and Poland is selling some of its gas to Slovakia. The Czech Republic will mediate between Slovakia and Austria after Bratislava said it planned to reopen its Bohunice nuclear power plant to make up for the gas shortages. Slovakia shuttered the plant in 2004 due to security reasons.

Austrian Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich pointed out the closure of the nuclear facilities was one of the conditions to Slovakia's joining the EU.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, said the country is ready to turn open the tap again to the rest of Europe once Ukraine unconditionally agrees to the entry of international monitors.

Peskov said Gazprom chief executive Aleksy Miller and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin will be in Belgium on Monday to sign the agreement with Naftogaz officials.