Gazprom accused of delaying tactics in signing deal to reduce gas imports

The deadline for signing the schedule of gas supplies between Polish Oil and Gas (PGNiG) and Gazexport, which represents Gazprom of Russia has expired. The agreement was to have reduced the quota of imported gas by 74 billion cubic meters to 143 billion between 2003 and 2020. According to insiders, the Russians are to blame as Gazprom blocked the deal. However, Infras tructure Minister Marek Pol still counts on finalizing the talks, and said on Friday that closing the deal was a matter of days and the problem should be solved before the end of March. Rzeczpospolita has learned that on his visit to Kiev, Pol also met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Wiktor Christienko to discuss the timetable for future gas deliveries to Poland. (Rzeczpospolita, March 8-9, p. B2) J.K.