Ukraine's PM wants gas debts paid

KIEV, Ukraine, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Ukraine's prime minister wants consumers to pay debts to the state oil and gas company.

Unian news agency reported Monday that Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has directed Naftohaz Ukrayiny to complete its consumer repayments schedule before the Oct. 15 onset of the heating season. During a phone conference with regional governors Tymoshenko said, "Naftohaz Ukrayiny, the Finance Ministry and heads of regional state administrations are personally responsible for this."

Households are not Naftohaz Ukrayiny's only delinquent accounts; during Tymoshenko's phone conference with provincial officials Naftohaz Ukrayiny first deputy head Ihor Didenko said that regional heating companies' cumulative debt to the state oil and gas firm amounted to $517 million. The lost revenue is essential for Naftohaz Ukrayiny in order to pay its bills for winter gas supplies to its Russian suppliers. For the last two years, pricing disputes between Naftohaz Ukrayiny and Russia have resulted in diminished supplies and cutoffs, which in turn have affected Gazprom customers further west in eastern and central Europe.