BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

09/01/2007

Transneft vice chief blames Belarus for crude oil cutoff

RBC, 09.01.2007, Moscow 09:37:35.Transneft did not halt oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, the Russian company's Vice President Sergei Grigoryev told RBC on Monday. He stressed that Belarus stopped receiving Russian oil transported via the pipeline and informed the Russian side that it would resume pumping crude oil along the pipeline section in question only on the condition that the requested customs duty is paid.

The situation where the Belarusian cabinet declares the Russian state company the customs applicant and the payer of customs duties on Russian oil being transported via Belarus is unacceptable, Grigoryev explained. The Transneft Vice President considers this decision to have no legal force and to be unlawful, because the Russian company does not fall under Belarus's jurisdiction.

Oil transit is being carried out under a contract between Belarus and Russia stipulating the terms for transporting Russian oil via Belarus. The document does not provide for amendments being made without mutual consent of the parties. In this case, no talks have been held, and the Russian company has not been notified of potential changes to be effected to fees and duties, Grigoryev stated.

Source:

http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20070109093735.shtml