Viktor Yushchenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed Kazakhstan's potential participation in expanding already existing pipelines or building new ones that could help transport Kazakh oil to Western markets.

"Kazakhstan is open and considers Ukraine as an important partner .. we are ready to solve any issues in interests of our countries," Nazarbayev told reporters at a joint news conference.

Both leaders also discussed Kazakhstan's potential participation in building an oil refinery in Brody, on the Polish border, Yushchenko said.

Ukraine is already a major transit point for oil flowing into Europe, most of it from Russia.

A 670-kilometer (410-mile) pipeline running from the Black Sea port of Odessa to the Brody, on the Polish border, has remained largely idle amid bickering over whether to accept oil from Russia or from other Caspian Sea countries for shipment westward.

Energy-rich Kazakhstan wants new ways to export its vast oil reserves, and energy-starved Ukraine wants to solidify its position as a key transit nation and diversify its own supplies. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/