BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/12/2006

Gazprom reminds that gas price for Belarus is "even less than for Armenia"

Gazprom will make no more concessions to Belarus, official spokesman for the gas monopoly Sergey Kupriyanov said, Ekho Moskvy Radio informs. Moscow admitted assessment of Beltransgaz at the price of $5 billion, and, as Kupriyanov said, "Gazprom is not Santa Claus."

Moscow does not rule out that Minsk would resort to unsanctioned pumping out of gas assigned for European consumers. The European Union prefers not to dramatize the situation.

Minsk should agree to the proposed gas price, Speaker of the Russian Federation Council Sergey Mironov believes. According to him, Russia's position in the talks with Belarus concerning gas delivery is transparent and open and favorable for Minsk as well. "Now it is Belarusian turn, and there is some time left," Mironov said.

Gazprom made unprecedented concessions to Belarus in conditions of gas delivery in 2003 and next years, Kupriyanov believes. "Taking into account establishment of a joint venture and our allied relations with Belarus, in particularly, those in the gas industry, we were ready to propose to Belarus the price of $105. It is even less than for Armenia," he said on air of Mayak Radio.

Source:

http://www.regnum.ru/english/761796.html