Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr A. Gasimova / The statements made by the Ukrainian President at the energy summit in Krakow on joining a new pro-western energy block were of declarative character, Andrei Yermolayev, a Ukrainian politician, the director of the ' Sofia' Social Research Centre, said.
On 11 May, as a result of a two-day summit of the Azerbaijani, Georgian, Latvian, Poland, and Ukrainian Presidents in Krakow a joint declaration on support for construction of the Poland part of the Odessa ( Ukraine)-Broda ( Poland) pipeline was signed.
A concluding communique stating the formation of an energy block by the countries that had agreed to establish new energy routes around Russia was issued. On 12 May the Russian, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan Presidents signed a Declaration in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan on construction of the Caspian gas pipeline that will pass via Russia.
Yuri Boyko, Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister, stated on 16 May that Kiev had intentions to join the agreement on the construction of the Caspian gas pipeline. The decision can be regarded as departing from Krakow agreements.
Yermolayev said on 16 May that he did not suppose there were any grounds for the competing of two energy strategies. "I suppose Ukraine will take part the most in projects corresponding to its strategic interests. Ukraine will more closely cooperate within European projects and will not stick to the strategy of transit countries." According to Yermolayev, there are no grounds for a conflict. The matter is a competition of initiatives.