ANKARA - Pipeline Transportation Corp (Botas) Director General Mehmet Bilgic said on Wednesday that talks with Gazprom company on price of Russian natural gas would continue on Thursday, adding, ''at the moment, we are not at the point of making any statement.''
Following the first part of the talks which started the same day at the Botas Directorate General in Ankara, Bilgic and Gazprom Deputy Director General Yuri Kamarov held a press conference.
Noting that such contracts were long-term contracts which were reviewed periodically, Bilgic said that talks which started the same day were a part of this process.
When asked how much reduction was in question, Bilgic defined the talks as not an extraordinary situation, adding, ''this is a process which is still under way. At the moment, it is very difficult to say anything. We held talks last week, and we continued today. Also this is a part of it.''
When recalled of the news which said, 'during their press conference in Moscow, Gazprom officials said they might make a 4-5 percent reduction but they were against natural gas in return for goods, Bilgic said, ''they told us that they had not made such a statement.''
Noting that they had taken up all issues under the contract, Bilgic added, ''at the moment, we are not at the point of making any statement.''
Meanwhile, Yuri Kamarov said that they were discussing a very sensitive issue, and they were trying to find a reasonable solution, adding that they would make a statement when they reached a solution.
(MS) 25.06.2003