BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/01/2007

Future of Russia-Belarus union depended energy dispute settlement - official

MINSK. Jan 3 (Interfax-West) - Belarussian First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko believes that the gas dispute could have destroyed the union between Belarus and Russia.

"When closer to midnight on December 31 we were still far from agreement I said to [Gazprom CEO Alexei] Miller: "Not only the formation of a gas transporting JV or the price at which we will be buying gas depends on us. Relations between countries and the union are in question. After all there is only one step from love to hatred," Semashko told the press in Minsk on Tuesday.

"Is it possible that in 2007 we will return to 1941-1944 when our people experienced great sufferings? I cannot imagine that our children and grandchildren would be freezing," he said.

Miller "clearly realized that it was a practical not theoretical question," Semashko said.

In his opinion, Russia's ultimatum was very disadvantageous.

"Negotiations on the formation of a customs union of four-five states are under way. And suddenly Russia shows that it can cancel customs agreements sooner for political than for economic reasons," Semashko said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11656476