BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/12/2006

No results at Gazprom-Belarus gas talks yet - spokesman

MOSCOW, December 29 (RIA Novosti) - Gas negotiations between Russia's natural gas monopoly and Belarusian authorities have so far brought no result, Gazprom's spokesman said Friday.

A delegation of the Belarusian Energy Ministry arrived in Moscow this afternoon for negotiations on the gas price formula for Belarus in 2007.

"Negotiations are continuing, the Belarusian delegation is in Gazprom's office, but no results have been achieved yet," Sergei Kupriyanov told Russia's NTV television channel.

Russia and Belarus are currently involved in complex negotiations over the gas price for Minsk, which has been paying a discounted rate of $46.68 per 1,000 cubic meters under a contact that expires December 31.

Gazprom is seeking a higher price of $105 per 1,000 cubic meters, the lowest among other ex-Soviet nations, but Minsk said it was ready to pay only $75.

The dispute is reminiscent of a gas spat with Ukraine early this year when Russia briefly suspended gas supplies, affecting consumers in Europe.

Source:

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20061229/58120463.html