SKOPJE (Macedonia), Nov. 17 ??“ The council of ministers of the Energy Community has given Ukraine observer status, Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko told the press in Skopje on Friday.

"This is the first stage of cooperation with the Energy Community. This is a transition period for us on the way to the full integration in the European community. The status of observer guarantees access to all [Energy Community] information, technical, and financial institutions," he said.