BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/12/2006

EU urges quick resolution of the Russia-Belarus gas conflict

Brussels, Dec 28, IRNA

The EU Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, called Thursday for an urgent resolution of the negotiations between Russia and Belarus about gas supplies for next year.

"The Commission is following the situation very closely since it may affect gas supplies to the European Union. I call the two parts to reach as soon as possible a satisfactory agreement that do not put in question gas transits to the EU," he said in a statement.

Russian energy giant Gazprom has threatened to cut off gas supplies to Belarus if it refuses to accept an increase in gas prices from January 1.

Belarus said that if gas supplies were cut, it would deny Gazprom access to its pipelines, move that could hurt supplies to some European countries.

A dispute between Ukraine and Russia over gas pricing last January led to a reduction in gas supplies to some EU member states.

Piebalgs said he will call the EU Gas Coordination Group to meet on 4th January in Brussels to evaluate the situation.

Source:

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0612283990153439.htm