Negotiations between Moscow and Minsk on the price of gas for Belarus ended with no results. About it to Agency “RIA Novosti” said the Counsellor of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia Mr. Yuri Yaroshevich.
“The talks, which were attended by Deputy Ministers (Belarus) and Vladimir Semashko (Russia), Arkady Dvorkovich, ended inconclusively. Unable to agree”, — quotes Agency of his word.
Press Secretary of the Belarusian government Vladislav Sucevic said “RIA Novosti” that the government has not commented on the negotiations. To comment on the plans of the Belarusian delegation, as to if she plans to return to Minsk or to continue negotiations Thursday, it did not.
On Sunday the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that Minsk has practically agreed with Moscow about the gas price. The Belarusian leader talked and the creation of “a document”. “We have him for the night resulted in the form as we see it. The Russian side will probably offer some options. Today these two documents are in the government of the Russian Federation. They will review them and make proposals. I think soon we will resolve this issue”, — said Lukashenko.
The official representative of “Gazprom” Sergei Kupriyanov on the same day to a request to comment on the negotiations with Belarus, said: “When we agree, we will tell”.
The next day the Belarusian President on the results of working meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko has set the task for two days to reach a final agreement with Russia on gas.
The essence of the gas dispute between Moscow and Minsk that Belarus asks Russia discount on gas, calling the fair price of $73 per 1 thousand cubic meters.
In late August, “Kommersant”, citing people familiar with the discussions between the two parties, sources reported pre-agreed between Moscow and Minsk a new pricing scheme for Russian gas. As he wrote the publication under the new scheme, the price of Russian gas for Belarus will be reduced approximately to $100 per 1 thousand cubic meters from the current $132.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, commenting on the publication “Kommersant”, said that “it’s all true”. Then he added that negotiations on this issue with Minsk continues.
