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Poland, Ukraine to Study Extension of Odessa-Brody Pipeline


The presidents of Poland and Ukraine have agreed to study extending Ukraine's Odessa-Brody oil pipeline to the Baltic Sea.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his Ukrainian counterpart, Victor Yushchenko, announced the plan in Kiev soon after the Polish leader arrived in Ukraine's capital for a two-day visit.

Ukraine completed the nearly 700-kilometer pipeline in 2001. It extends from the Black Sea port of Odessa to the city of Brody in western Ukraine.

It was built to transport oil from the Caspian Sea to Europe. However, when the Ukrainian government could not find suppliers, it reversed the flow to pump Russian oil.

The leaders say they will spend three months studying extension of the pipeline to the Polish cities of Plotsk and Gdansk.

Mr. Yushchenko calls the possible expansion one of the most interesting new projects in the European oil market.

Mr. Kaczynski told journalists in Kiev that his talks will include energy security, Ukraine's European ambitions and bilateral cooperation.

The Polish leader says he plans to continue his support of Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership, an issue he says he discussed during his recent talks in Washington with President Bush.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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