The chairman of Gazprom board of directors Alexei Miller informed the prime minister of Russia Vladimir Putin that Belarus demanded of the Russian holding to pay gas transit "by the terms not corresponding to the contract". According to the head of gas monopolist, that was written in the letter received by Gazprom and signed by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko.
Alexei Miller ascertained that the problem of debts payment by Gazprom for gas transit through Belarus «isn’t completely settled», and he reminded that Minsk threatened to block Russian hydrocarbons delivery to Europe in the case of nonpayment, RIA Novosti informs.
In turn, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia shouldn’t agree to the terms made by Belarus and should pay gas transit under the contracts. According to him, all the changes of transit terms should be discussed at negotiations to «consider them in normal companionable business conditions».
The head of the Russian gas holding also told the head of the Russian government that gas transit to Europe was reduced by 20 % on June, 23rd as a result of «unapproved intake» by the Belarusian party the Russian gas.
«Short-reception of the Russian gas by the consumers in the countries which receive the Russian gas through Belarus was registered yesterday. Reduction of delivery volume reached 20 %, since the Belarusian party picked the export pipe. We had seen the same situation this morning before the decision on renewal of Russian gas deliveries was made», Alexei Miller said.
