BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/01/2007

Duma deputies criticize Belarus for imposing duty on Russian export oil

MOSCOW. Jan 5 (Interfax) - Belarus's decision to impose a customs duty on Russian export oil transited through its territory to the West will have a negative impact on economic and political integration between the two countries and will obstruct the establishment of a union between them, State Duma Deputy Chairman Vladimir Pekhtin told Interfax on Friday.

Pekhtin suggested that, as the Russian and Belarussian nations are seeking to unite, all economic matters should be based on international agreements and understandings existing between the two countries.

"I hate to think that Belarus might be trying to escalate tensions between the two countries. All economic matters should be resolved in the spirit of partnership and should comply with market principles," Pekhtin said.

Duma economic policy, enterprise, and tourism committee deputy head Alexei Likhachyov pointed out that any decision made by the Belarussian authorities retroactively is in fact illegitimate.

Russian-Belarussian relations are multifaceted, and it is difficult to say now how the measures taken by Belarus could affect the development of the relationship between the two countries in the future, he said.

Likhachyov cited problems that already exist in relations between the two countries, particularly protectionist measures that Belarus has imposed on Russian goods and restrictions on the use of Russian capital in that country.

"The decision made by the Belarussian authorities will lead to an increase in the number of negative factors aimed against Russian business. The measures imposed by Belarus will not help set up a unified state," he said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11656554