BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

02/11/2007

Russian Ambassador Dismisses Need For Second Line Of Pipeline Via Belarus

The Russian ambassador to Belarus, Aleksandr Surikov, said on November 1 in Minsk that building a second line through Belarus of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, connecting Russia's Yamal peninsula with European markets, is unnecessary, Belapan reported. Surikov said that the construction of the trans-Baltic Nord Stream pipeline has already begun, and that pipeline will ensure direct gas supplies to Western Europe through the Baltic Sea, bypassing intermediary countries. In mid-October, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov promised that Moscow will consider the construction of another line of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka earlier offered free gas transit for five years if Russia abandons the idea of the trans-Baltic pipeline in favor of one crossing Belarusian territory. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/11/3-cee/cee-021107.asp