EU says to take 3 days to get gas once pact is reached

Brussels: The European Union said it will take three days for natural-gas from Russia to reach EU nations once an agreement is reached to restart transit flows through Ukraine.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Jose Barroso confirmed that agreement has been reached on sending of a group of observers to monitor natural-gas flows through Ukraine, commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen told journalists in Brussels on Friday.

This group will include Russian members from OAO Gazprom and observers from NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy, she said.

"Prime Minister Putin has promised that as soon as the observers have reached the border between Russia and Ukraine and the border between Ukraine and the EU, it will be possible to recommence supplies," Ahrenkilde-Hansen said. "Our observers are ready to undertake that job."

There is no formal commitment on when Russia will resume gas shipments, said commission spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny.

He said 18 experts and four commission officials will be among the observers.