BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/01/2010

Minsk threatens Moscow with retaliation for 100% oil export duty

The Belarusian customs chief threatened Russia with retaliation on Saturday over its decision to impose full duty on crude pumped to Belarus.

Alexander Shpilevsky, the head of the Belarusian customs committee, said Russia had backtracked on January 1 on a bilateral agreement of three years ago to gradually reduce oil export duty and described Russia's actions as illegal.

"The customs committee is an instrument of the president and the government, and if a decision on retaliation is made, we will be ready to carry it out in full," Shpilevsky told a news conference.

The Belarusian official also complained that Russia was increasing the number of its customs officials on the border, but said Minsk would not take any response measures.

Moscow and Minsk have failed to agree oil supplies and transit for 2010. Belarus benefited from major discounts on Russian oil imports in 2009, and is seeking preferential treatment this year.

Russia warned earlier that Belarus would have to pay 100% oil export duty in 2010 if no oil deal was available.

Despite the dispute, Russian oil supplies via the ex-Soviet country have continued.

Last year, Russia supplied some 25 million metric tons of oil to Belarus, including 5-6 million tons for the neighbor's domestic needs. A senior Russian official said Belarus has asked Russia to supply up to 30 million metric tons of oil duty free this year.

Western powers have accused Russia of using energy as a political tool in relations with Ukraine and Belarus, major transit nations for its Europe-bound natural gas and oil flows.

MINSK, January 23 (RIA Novosti)

Source:

http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20100123/157660839.html


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