BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/08/2007

One Week Postponement Of Gas Crisis Between Belarus And Russia

Gazprom Delays Gas Cuts To Belarus By One Week

Russia's natural gas monopoly Gazprom says it will postpone cutting supplies to Belarus after Minsk made a first payment on its debt of nearly half a billion dollars.

Gazprom had given Belarus until this morning to settle a $460 million debt or risk having its gas shipments cut in half.

But shortly after the deadline passed, Gazprom said it had received a payment -- reportedly $190 million -- and that it would give Belarus one week to fully settle its debt.

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has accused Russia of seeking an economic takeover of Belarus, and said Minsk could seek financial help from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Pipelines in Belarus serve as a key transit route for Russian oil and gas shipments to Western Europe.

The dispute over gas payments began after Gazprom in January more than doubled the price it charges Belarus for natural-gas deliveries.

Source:

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=47324

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