As he was addressing the media after the event, Mr. Fradkov said it was fruitful. "We debated a wide range of issues of commerce and other bilateral economic contacts, links in the fuel-and-energy complex, aerospace and military-technological partnership, humanitarian ties, and joint frontier efforts.
"We failed to come to decisions on certain issues-but, at least, we appointed deadlines for understandings on those disputable matters.
"I expect the commission to gather for its nearest session in September. Ministerial and other experts will clear up all issues on several projects before the session."
"We are, step by step, overcoming the red tape and formal attitudes. Today's session has proved that progress," said Viktor Yanukovich, in his turn.
As he pointed out, session preparations occasionally leave ample room for progress. The Premier called for tougher demands on preparatory efforts.
The September session will debate formative concepts of a common economic space, to start with setting up free trade zones, he went on.
"There are limitations on extending trade. We shall have, during the September event, to agree between ourselves on abolishing them, and increase the assortment of mutual exports/imports," said the Ukrainian Premier.
There are prospects to shift oil and gas value-added taxation to the importer country. The matter may be settled quite soon, said Mikhail Fradkov.
"This is an essential and very complicated issue. All concerned offices must join hands to work on it. We hope we shall come to an accord with Ukraine-at any rate, we shall make another try quite soon."
Russia and Ukraine have put off signing a treaty on Russian petroleum exports to Ukraine. The postponement is not due to the Odessa-Brody oil mainline, now in blueprints and with a pushing lobby to promote it, he reassured.
"We've got to meet each other halfway in the matter-not lobby it. We must offer dealers good and just terms and contacts with the united economic environment in view."
As for the mainline, the two countries have first to agree between themselves, at a technical expert level, on its load and throughput. "There are only technical details to settle now," stressed Mr. Fradkov.
As for Russian petroleum transits via Ukraine, much has been done to determine balances and routes, and appoint exporters, he added.
Russia's Premier came over to the An 70 jumbo jet, a joint Russian-Ukrainian R&D project. He does not see whatever reason to procrastinate its implementation. "The project is making good progress, with detailed discussions underway on financing and shares. There is nothing at present to brake in practical work."
Russia and Ukraine summed up the 10th commission session by signing an important agreement. It approves methods of determining Russia's contribution to social and economic progress of Sevastopol and other Ukrainian towns where the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy is stationed, added Mikhail Fradkov.
Another intergovernmental agreement signed today concerns extra measures to guarantee Russian natural gas piping via Ukraine for next year.
Reporters asked Mr. Fradkov about Yukos stock plummeting on the Russian exchange. In reply, he called not to paint the situation blacker than it was. Developments have not come to a critical point with the Russian Trading System index falling by a mere 3 per cent, he reassured.
Things look quite serious, nevertheless. By the RTS auction closing time, Yukos stock had come 17 per cent down-to $6.65 a share, as against the closing time yesterday. The Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange had the fall slightly exceeding 2 per cent, to $7.10. All blue chips followed the drowning oil giant. Lukoil and Surgutneftegaz are 2 per cent down each at the RTS, the Unified Russian Power Grid and Norilsk Nickel 5 per cent each, and Tatneft 10 per cent.
