"Both sides expressed satisfaction over the course of the discussion. They agreed that the discussion brought them significantly closer to a point in time when the 49 per-cent stake of Yukos Finance [a Yukos subsidiary] in Transpetrol will be sold," the company said following talks between Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Jirko Malchrek and Yukos CEO Steven Theede.
"Both sides agreed to refrain from taking any steps that might block the entire process and to work toward a solution that is beneficial to both parties and, at the same time, respects the strategic interests of Yukos and the Slovak government," Yukos said.
The embattled oil major currently holds major assets in three foreign countries - Lithuania, Slovakia, and Switzerland. Talks are under way to sell Yukos' 53.7% share in Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta.
Reports said the Slovakian government planned to auction Yukos' stake. Andrei Sharonov, an official with the Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry, said the government had the right to approve or choose the entity that would hold the share block.
Earlier this week, Sharonov said the Russian government would like to see the share block bought by state-owned oil company Rusneft.
Sharonov said Economic Development Minister German Gref had sent a letter to the Slovakian government to support Rusneft's bid for the stake.
According to Sharonov, Russian state-owned oil companies Tatneft and Rosneft have also shown interest in the Transpetrol assets but have not submitted bids for the auction. He said large foreign companies, including Italy's ENEL, would also feature at the auction.
