Belarus, Russian PMs in crisis talks over gas debt
Belarus and Russia are expected to continue talks at the level of prime ministers over the restructurization of the debt for the Russian gas supplied to Belarus in the first six months of 2007, Gazprom's press office said in a statement. The bilateral talks over the gas debt began last weekend in Moscow.
Belarus owes around $450 million to Gazprom but has missed the July 23 payment deadline in accordance with the initial deal. On June 4 Gazprom transferred $625 million to Belarus as the first installment for 12.5 percent of Beltransgaz's shares, hoping that Belarus would use this money to pay for the supplied gas.
But Belarus's first vice prime minister Uladzimir Syamyashka said in May that the money would be wired to a special budget to fund national investment projects. The Russian web-based newspaper Vremya Novostey reports that the Belarus and Russian prime ministers are scheduled to meet in Moscow on July 30.
However, Belarus and Russian government press offices could not immediately confirm these reports, according to Belapan.
BelaPAN
Belarus owes around $450 million to Gazprom but has missed the July 23 payment deadline in accordance with the initial deal. On June 4 Gazprom transferred $625 million to Belarus as the first installment for 12.5 percent of Beltransgaz's shares, hoping that Belarus would use this money to pay for the supplied gas.
But Belarus's first vice prime minister Uladzimir Syamyashka said in May that the money would be wired to a special budget to fund national investment projects. The Russian web-based newspaper Vremya Novostey reports that the Belarus and Russian prime ministers are scheduled to meet in Moscow on July 30.
However, Belarus and Russian government press offices could not immediately confirm these reports, according to Belapan.
BelaPAN
