MOSCOW, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will ratify the European Energy Charter and its additional protocol if the documents are amended in line with Moscow's demands, a Russian presidential aide said Thursday.
The original European Energy Charter was signed in The Hague on December 17, 1991, and included a declaration of principles for international energy, including trade, transit and investment, together with the intention to negotiate a binding treaty.
The Energy Charter Treaty and a relevant protocol were signed on December 17, 1994, and came into force in April 1998.
Russia has refused to ratify it because Europe has demanded access to Russian pipelines for Central Asian states and other countries, which Moscow says will make their natural gas 50% cheaper than Russia's when it arrives in Europe.
"I would say this is a hackneyed issue, and [the EU] does not give our arguments proper consideration," Sergei Yastrzhembsky said prior to an informal EU summit, which will be attended by President Vladimir Putin.
He said the sides should begin discussing the issues with which Russia is not satisfied.
"There is no other way if our partners want us to ratify these documents," he said.
"Pressuring Russia to act against its own national interests will not work," Yastrzhembsky said, adding that some countries support Russia's arguments.
He said there is no deadline for the charter's ratification because the issue does not hamper the development of Russia-EU energy cooperation.
