Brussels, 23/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - Ukraine's gas transit system can only be modernised effectively if Russia, as the main gas supplier for Europe, is fully involved in this project from the start, Russian Energy Minister Serguei Shamtko told the press in Brussels on Monday. The minister had just taken part in the international conference on modernisation of the gas transit infrastructure in Ukraine. Jointly organised by the European Commission and the Ukrainian government (represented by President Viktor Iouchtchenko and Prime Minister Julia Timochenko), the conference ended with the adoption of a joint declaration whereby the EU, Ukraine and the international financial institutions undertake to create a framework that is propitious for the investment necessary, including through gradual integration of the Ukrainian gas sector in the Union energy market (EUROPE will come back to this). Mr Shamtko regretted that Russia had been “excluded” from the preparatory work for the conference as well as from the final declaration “which does not even mention Russia once”. “Trilateral cooperation is needed between the EU, Russia and the Ukraine” to successfully carry out this essential gas pipeline modernisation, he said. José Manuel Barroso, Commission President, has nothing against Russian participation. On the contrary. “If Russia wants to join us, it is most welcome”, Barroso said on Monday when speaking to the press after a meeting with Yulia Timochenko. (H.B./transl.jl)