BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/08/2007

Gazprom delays cuts of gas supplies, as Belarus partly repaid debt

MOSCOW, August 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The Belarussian gas pipeline system Beltransgaz has effected the first debt repayment, and Russia's gas major Gazprom decided to postpone cuts of gas supplies to Belarus. "Today Beltransgaz has made the first payment for a considerable part of the debt to Gazprom for gas supplies in the first half of 2007," Gazprom said in a statement transmitted to Itar-Tass on Friday. "The first repayment was made before 10.00 Moscow time," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said.

"We see real steps of the Belarussian side," he emphasized.

"In this connection, it was decided to postpone cuts of gas supplies to Belarussian consumers (scheduled on 10.00 Moscow time). Gazprom is expecting the full debt repayment within one week and timely payments for current gas supplies," he said.

Meanwhile, Beltransgaz noted that the Belarussian side "has transferred the first tranche of 190 million dollars on Friday morning." The gas supplies are made without restrictions in the republic, Beltransgaz said.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11766960&PageNum=0