Moldovan prime minister says talks with Russia on gas supplies to be continued 'in economic terms'

CHISINAU. Oct 23 (Interfax) – Moldovan Prime Minister Natalya Gavrilita said that the negotiations with the Russian Federation on the extension of the contract for supplies of natural gas between Moldovagaz and Gazprom will continue in economic terms.

She said this on the Moldova 1 television channel on Friday evening.

When asked a question about the negotiations with Russia and whether "Russia makes political conditions for the signing of the contract," Gavrilita answered that she cannot provide detailed information about the Russian side’s conditions because it may "affect the negotiating process."

"Because we’re still in the negotiating process, we decided not to provide too many details not to affect the negotiating process. It is important that we insist on the continuation of the discussion and on talks in solely economic terms," the prime minister said.

When asked whether Russia puts forward any conditions during talks, Gavrilita answered in the affirmative.

"It is obvious. Any talks mean agreements on the amounts, prices, conditions. We’re continuing discussing the economic aspects: how many debts we have, what we must pay, when we must pay, what price it is, what the amount are and so forth. Such discussions are currently ongoing. And they will continue," Gavrilita said.

Russian media outlets said on Friday that the two-day negotiations between Russia and Moldova on gas yielded no result. Moldova Deputy Prime Ministers Andrei Spinu and Vladislav Kulminski returned from Moscow on Friday evening. They did not provide any comments to the press.

On Friday, the parliament of Moldova declared a state of emergency in the country for the next 30 days.

Gavrilita said that the state of emergency was declared over a gas shortage and a drop in pressure in the country’s gas system.