Russia, Belarus to negotiate gas dispute this week, no discount seen

SOCHI, Oct 3 (PRIME) -- Russia and Belarus will discuss their natural gas dispute, but not a discount some time at the beginning of this week, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters on October 1.

“At the beginning of the week,” he said, when asked when the next meeting of the two countries will be held to discuss gas issues. “No, we are not discussing (a discount).

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said earlier in September that Moscow and Minsk had almost agreed on the price of Russian gas supplies, but Yury Yaroshevich, minister-counsellor of the Belarusian embassy in Russia, said shortly after that the talks finished without result.

In July, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Belarus owes Russian gas giant Gazprom U.S. $270 million. Gazprom said Minsk underpays the company for gas, while Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik said that the fair price would amount to $73 per 1,000 cubic meters instead of $132.77. Minsk did not acknowledge the debt.

In late August, Kommersant business daily reported citing sources that Moscow and Minsk had preliminary agreed that the price will fall to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters from about $132, and Belarus will redeem its debt. But Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said later that the talks had not been completed yet.

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