Putin, Timoshenko to discuss gas relations in Yalta.

MOSCOW, November 19 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin will on Thursday start a two-day visit to Ukraine. He and Ukraine's
Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko will conduct a meeting of the economic
committee of the Russian-Ukrainian inter-state commission. They will also
attend a meeting of the Council of the CIS heads of government on November
20.

Yuri Ushakov, the deputy administration chief of the Russian
government, told journalists that upon his arrival in Yalta, the Crimea,
Putin would first meet Timoshenko and then a meeting of the economic
committee would take place. After the meeting the two prime ministers will
give a news conference.
Ushakov said that the Putin-Timoshenko talks would largely dwell on
gas related issues. He made it clear that the Russian side would raise the
gas matter where things don't go smoothly.
"There are many aspects here. Prior to the 7th day of each month (the
last day of payment for gas supplied in the previous month) we have a
situation close to a deadlock," Ushakov complained. He explained that each
time the payment issue had to be solved in "manual" mode. "That's why
Putin is pressing all pedals. He appeals to his Ukrainian colleagues and
colleagues in the European Union," he said.
In the meantime, Timoshenko has recently said in Kiev that she is not
planning to discuss gas with Russia. "Ukraine and Russia won't discuss a
single gas issue at this meeting of the economic committee," she said,
adding that Naftogfaz Ukrainy and Gazprom have ten-year-old contracts for
the transit and delivery of gas.
"We don't have any problems. All settlement problems have been
resolved," Timoshenko went on to say.
The Committee also plans to discuss cooperation in various spheres
such as the fuel and energy sector, nuclear energy, industry, transport,
aviation and the agro-industrial complex.
Asked to comment on whether the internal political situation in
Ukraine in the run-up to the presidential elections would be a topic for
discussion, Ushakov said the question wasn't on the agenda. However, he
didn't rule out that the two leaders might touch upon it informally.
Ushakov explained that it shouldn't be regarded as a sign of Russia's
support for Timoshenko.
"We meet regularly. The commission's last meeting was held in April,"
Ushakov said.
Besides, the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers met in Gdansk early
in September. A date for holding a meeting of the Council of the CIS heads
of state was agreed six months ago.
Three deputies - Igor Shuvalov, Igor Sechin and Alexei Kudrin - as
well as Gazprom's head Alexei Miller will accompany Vladimir Putin to
Yalta.
On November 20, Putin will attend a meeting of the Council of the CIS
heads of government at the famous Livadiya Palace.
The day will start with posing for pictures. Then, the prime ministers
will meet head-to-head after what they will be joined by their
delegations. The CIS prime ministers are expected to give a news
conference.
According to Ushakov, the meeting will be dominated by the world
financial and economic crisis and the CIS draft budget for 2010. A plan of
anti-crisis measures and guidelines of cooperation in the innovation
sphere will be signed after the Council's meeting.
Besides, Putin plans to meet Karim Masimov, the prime minister of
Kazakhstan, and hold introduction meetings with Kyrgyz Prime Minister
Daniyar Usenov and Moldovan President Vlad Filat.


.Olympic forum to be held in Lausanne.

GENEVA, November 19 (Itar-Tass) - The Swiss Lausanne will host a forum
of the World Union of Olympic Cities. Its motto - "Once an Olympic city
will always be an Olympic city" - couldn't be chosen better to reflect the
spirit of discussions to be held by the mayors of cities that have already
hosted or are still planning to host the Olympic Games.
The delegates will exchange views on how to harmonize the Olympic
movement concept with a long-term strategy of urban development so as the
residents of Olympic ties could also benefit from the sport event.
The Mayor of Sochi Anatoly Pakhomov will represent his hometown that
will host Winter Olympic Games in 2014. He is expected to meet the IOC
President Jacques Rogge to discuss the organization and preparation for
the games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the administration of
Lausanne and the Vaud canton will give a reception for the forum's
participants at the fashionable Beau -Rivage Palace Hotel.
The working part of the forum will start on Friday and will last for
two days.

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