BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/11/2006

Belarus to review 2007 budget, if Russia's gas prices grow over 15%

MINSK, November 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The Belarussian government may review the state budget for 2007, if prices for Russian natural gas grow more than 15 percent, Belarussian Finance Minister Nikolai Korbut told reporters on Friday.

In 2006, Belarus purchases Russian gas at 46.68 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.

"Companies should hold a balanced policy and find ways of better efficiency," he said, adding, "They should not be afraid and think what may happen in the next year."

Korbut said that President Alexander Lukashenko had instructed the government to improve the draft budget within the next two weeks.

"In that period of time, the budget will be considered again at a meeting with the head of state and then submitted to the parliament," Korbut said.

On Thursday, Lukashenko told the government to carry on the dynamic economic growth, regardless energy prices in 2007.

Source:

http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=10954629&PageNum=0