MOSCOW, Feb. 19 - Germany supports an initiative to establish a consortium in charge of overhauling and operating Ukraine's gas transportation system, which would include the European Union and Russia.

"We welcome any proposal aimed at boosting the stability of gas transit to the EU. It should be intended to improve the reliability of energy supplies through forging closer links between producers, transit states and consumers. In this context, the idea of setting up an international consortium could prove to be a suitable option," German Economics and Technology Minister Rainer Bruederle told Interfax.