Ukraine indebted to Poland for loyalty on pipeline issue despite difficulties

During a meeting of Economy Minister Janusz Steinhoff and Russian Transportation Minister Siergei Frank, the two urged Russia's Gazprom and Polish Oil and Gas company (PGNiG) to begin talks on the prospects of a future gas pipeline from Russia to Western Europe via Poland. An intergovernmental taskforce would be created in March 2001 to tackle all aspects pertaining to gas transit. According to Frank, a comprehensive schedule for the taskforce would be compiled during Steinhoff's upcoming visit to Moscow. Despite the seemingly cordial talks, Steinhoff reiterated Poland's position against the construction of pipeline routed to Europe bypassing Ukrainian territory. In related news, Ukrainian National Security Council secretary general Jevhen Marczuk, on a visit to Warsaw, thanked Poland for its steadfastness in keeping Russian imperialist motives at bay. "We understand Poland's difficulties and the financial benefits at stake," said Marczuk, "however, she has stuck to the prinicple of 'a friend in need is a friend indeed.'" (Rzeczpospolita, Nov. 4-5, p. B2).