BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

26/12/2006

Gazprom says talks with Belarus fail again

MOSCOW, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Tuesday a new round of talks with Belarus on 2007 prices yielded no results on Tuesday, but the firm still hoped for a deal before the New Year.

A deal is crucial for Belarus to receive gas in 2007 and for Gazprom to transit gas smoothly via the ex-Soviet state to customers in Poland and Germany.

"There was a new round of talks today with Belarus's Deputy Prime Minister (Vladimir) Semashko. We broke up with no agreement. But we still have a chance to meet and agree before the New Year. Talks have not been suspended," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told Reuters.

Source:

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-12-26T105654Z_01_L26330735_RTRIDST_0_GAZPROM-BELARUS-TALKS-URGENT.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna

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