BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

08/01/2007

Russia won't hold talks with Belarus before transit duty is dropped - official

MOSCOW. Jan 8 (Interfax) - Talks with Belarus will begin only after the illegal customs duty on Russian oil transit is cancelled, Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister Andrei Sharonov has said on Ekho Moskvy radio.

The decision on talks is most likely to be made "at the level of heads of Cabinets tonight," he said.

"Belarus has cast prudence to the winds by starting siphoning [oil] for Russia not paying the duty it illegally imposed. This looks like a trade war," Sharonov said.

However, Russia has every possibility to introduce reply measures to Belarus. "One should not forget that Russia is the biggest market and No. 1 economic partner for Belarus. Therefore we have the possibilities to apply measures to Belarus and get the duty cancelled," he said. ml

Source:

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11656641