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Until the second thread
Russia promises Belarus to reduce gas prices
The Belarusian parliament will consider the issue of recognizing the independence of Sukhumi and Tskhinvali at a session that begins on April 2. “It is our sovereign business to recognize or not to recognize. And we will resolve this issue calmly,” said Alexander Lukashenko. The President emphasized that Minsk does not accept pressure either from Russia or from the West. “Russia does not connect the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with communication with Belarus on other issues. This is the sovereign right of the state,” Russian Ambassador Alexander Surikov confirmed at a press conference on Friday, answering a question from Vremya Novostei. The prospects for recognition of Tskhinvali and Sukhumi have been discussed since the fall, but Minsk is in no hurry to make a decision for fear of complicating relations with the West.Moscow is in no hurry to make concessions to Minsk on economic issues that are important to it. The possibility of building a second line of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline through the territory of Belarus has not yet been considered. In January, the Belarusians proposed returning to this project, counting on expanding their transit capabilities. “Until the work on the construction of the Northern and Southern Streams is completed, we are not ready to build Yamal-Europe-2,” Surikov said. Commissioning of the first line of the Nord Stream gas pipeline along the bottom of the Baltic Sea is scheduled for 2011. “Any manufacturer tries to avoid transit states in its transport schemes so as not to depend on them,” the diplomat explained. But President Lukashenko is confident that the construction of Yamal-Europe-2 would be a profitable project for Russia as well: “Even if supplied through Ukraine, it is much more expensive, not to mention Nord Stream.” This, you know, is an unprofitable project. But this is Russia's business. She has the right to manage her resources.”
Regarding energy supplies, relations between the allies are also not developing quite as Minsk would like. Surikov said that the price per thousand cubic meters of gas “in the first quarter will be $200 or slightly higher.” However, he confirmed the hopes of Belarusians that the cost of gas will decrease and average $140-$150 per year. But this will happen only if oil prices on world markets remain low.