BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/08/2007

Russia assures will not use energy exports for blackmail - minister

MANILA (Thomson Financial) - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured Asia on Friday that Russia would not use energy exports as blackmail despite a recent threat to cut off gas supplies to neighbor Belarus.

'Don't trust those who say Russia is using hydrocarbon exports to blackmail other countries,' he told a business forum in the Philippines after a regional summit here.

'That is simply not true.'

He made no mention of the dispute that almost resulted in cuts of Russian gas shipments to Belarus, a key transit state for energy to western Europe.

The threatened cuts that had rattled European nerves were narrowly averted on Friday after Belarus began repayment of nearly half a billion US dollars in overdue debt for past supplies.

'We have never, ever violated a single contract with countries that import our energy,' Lavrov said, and urged Asian nations to cooperate with Russia on energy issues.

He cited plans to construct an oil pipeline connecting Russia to Asia, saying his country could became a major energy supplier to the region.

Lavrov suggested Russia might build an oil refinery or storage facility in the Philippines but also cited Moscow's expertise in nuclear energy, saying this had 'the best potential' for growth.

He said Russian nuclear technology had improved so that it was safer and cleaner.

Source:

http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/032007113715.htm