Astana, Moscow and Kiev agreed to coordinate their actions in international market of black metals

/Kazakhstan today, May 31, 02/ - Astana, Moscow and Kiev agreed to coordinate their actions in international market of black metals. As Mikhail Kasyanov the prime minister of Russia, informed at press-conference, government heads of Kazakhstan, Russia and the Ukraine decided to prepare an agreement within the month that will "balance current situation in the market of black metals", and also to start developing of "program common measures to possible fulfillment of restructuring of metallurgical production of our states", Mikhail Kasyanov said. He mentioned that meeting with prime ministers of Kazakhstan Imanali Tasmagambetov and of the Ukraine Anatoly Kinah was held with the initiative of government head of Russian Federation in Moscow with the framework of running meeting of heads of CIS governments council. M. Kasyanov mentioned that decisions made by the third party countries "that are our markets" in the nearest future can influence on metallurgical industry development of these three countries. According to the information given by RF prime minister today 40% of black metallurgy products of RF is selling at markets of the third party states. The Ukraine exports 70% of volume production, Kazakhstan - 80%. And today this particular external market is narrowing because of authorized measures of these third party countries that were introduced to protect their own producers. M. Kasyanov marked that this topic "troubles Moscow much as well as Astana and Kiev. He reminded that a week ago on the meeting of RF government this question was examined and there was made the decision to develop a program of metallurgical industry restructuring, which also anticipates re-profiling, downsizing of production volumes that can cause also a decrease of workplaces. "It will happen not today, however, analysis of situation which was occurred shows that it can cause such painful decisions", M. Kasyanov said. Thus, he thinks that neighbor states - Kazakhstan and the Ukraine need to collaborate and develop coordinated measures. "We have to define volumes of internal consumption taking into account growing economies of these three countries. Define opportunities in external markets and our joint trade policy in this area", prime minister of Russia said. Prime minister of Kazakhstan I. Tasmagambetov also believes that "we have to build our policy in this sphere with long-term basis, understanding that current situation will not stay the same. Anyway, in some period of time the situation will recover". Thus, the head of Kazakhstan thinks that Kazakhstan, Russia and the Ukraine "have to overcome this difficult time together and to coordinate their actions in order to minimize expenses". I. Tasmagambetov called the decision of coordinating their actions on steel products producing on pricing in this area made by three prime ministers the "clever" one, as it will allow these three countries to keep from competing and to act in same direction. Today on May 31, 2002 two-side meeting of prime ministers of Kazakhstan and Russia will be held in Moscow. After that I. Tasmagambetov will leave Moscow for Almaty. [2002-05-31]