MOSCOW, 06/10/06 - Dutch gas company Gasunie and Gazprom of Russia yesterday signed an agreement in principle on a pipeline to bring Russian natural gas to the Netherlands.

Gasunie chief Marcel Kramer signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Gazprom chief Alexej Miller. The signing in Moscow was attended by Economic Affairs Minister Joop Wijn, who is visiting Russia with a trade mission.

The memorandum is an important step on the road to the signing of a contract. A pipeline between Russian and Germany through the Baltic Sea is intended to be operational in 2010. The intention is to extend this pipeline to the Netherlands.

Russian Economic Affairs Minister German Gref has promised Wijn to talk with Anglo-Dutch oil concern Shell on the withdrawal of its environmental licences to produce gas and oil on Sachalin island. Gref is to visit the Netherlands in June 2007. He and Wijn have agreed to perpetuate the "excellent economic relations" with visits to each other's countries.