Moscow, Minsk reach no agreements in gas dispute

MINSK, Jun 8 (PRIME) -- Moscow and Minsk have reached no clear agreements on the price of Russian gas for Belarus, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov told reporters Wednesday.

“We have discussed that and we will continue to discuss it. We have not reached clear agreements, but we have directions along which we will continue our dialogue,” he said.

In April, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said that Minsk expects the price for Russian gas exports to fall to U.S. $80 per 1,000 cubic meters from the current $142 due to the decline of the ruble against the U.S. dollar.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in May that Belarus owes Gazprom over $125 million for gas supplied in January–April, while Minsk did not recognize the debt. Also in May, Gazprom’s local unit Gazprom Transgaz Belarus filed a $125 million suit over the debt to the arbitration court of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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