ODESSA-BRODY: TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Ukraine again had to postpone a decision on whether the pipeline should pump Caspian Sea crude to Europe or to move Russian oil to a Black Sea oil terminal for exports, a government spokesman said Monday.

The decision was supposed to be considered at a cabinet meeting on Friday, but Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Andriy Klyuyev removed the issue from the agenda. The government had already delayed a decision, on Dec 18. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said Friday that a final decision must be made no later than the end of January.

According to representatives of the Ukrainian Government, its committee has supported sending Caspian Sea crude via Odessa-Brody to Europe despite criticism from President.