Belarus plans to settle its gas debt with Russia within two weeks

June 21, Minsk / Vladimir Vasilkov - BELTA /. Belarus plans to settle its gas debt with Russia within two weeks. This was announced today to journalists by First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko, a BELTA correspondent reports. At the same time, the Belarusian side put forward a counter-demand to the Russians: to pay off the debt for gas transit in the amount of $217 million. Vladimir Semashko noted that the negotiation process on gas issues with the Russian side is moving in the right direction. He stressed that a certain compromise is maturing in the negotiations with Gazprom. "Firstly, we were threatened with an 85% supply cut. But today, the restriction is only 15%. This can be endured and we can think about how to compensate," the official said. The First Deputy Prime Minister also reported that as a result of the negotiations, "a certain protocol has emerged, which we cannot agree with in its current form. But it is important that the Russian side has acknowledged that it owes the Belarusian side $217 million for transit." "Thus, if the Russians pay us $217 million for transit, then we are ready to pay $187 million for gas," Vladimir Semashko explained, clarifying that who pays first is not принципиально. "We do not hide that Belarus has difficulties with currency. And in order to enter the real-time payment mode, we need to borrow currency," the First Deputy Prime Minister noted. "We will pay. Maybe not today, maybe within two weeks we will find an opportunity, borrow, but we will pay. And they will pay for transit." Vladimir Semashko added that the Belarusian side "will not withdraw from negotiations, we will insist, persuade colleagues, seek a compromise." The First Deputy Prime Minister recalled that in 2006, when the gas supply contract was concluded, both sides proceeded from the understanding that it was necessary to reach the principle of equal-yield prices. "This means that the profit included in the sale of gas to Germany, Poland, Belarus and within Russia itself should be the same," Vladimir Semashko explained. "We understood the position of the Russian government. The problem was that in Russia, until recently, gas sales were unprofitable, Gazprom sold gas within Russia at unprofitable prices, so prices had to be raised. And we, understanding our colleagues, agreed to a synchronized price increase. But this was in 2006, and there were assurances, and there were certain documents that spoke of our solidarity. But three years have passed, and we see that the trajectory indicated by the Russian government, the real trajectory towards equal-yield prices is much lower than the one set. And we see that Russia will not reach equal-yield prices by January 1, 2011. We already see official statements at the level of Russian ministers that they plan to reach equal-yield prices by 2015." "If so, then we say: these are force majeure circumstances. We say that we need prices comparable to Russian ones," Vladimir Semashko concluded. -0-