The First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko informed that Beltransgaz liquidated a debt for the gas delivered in January-April, 2010 at 4.00 p.m. on June, 23rd. "We borrowed 200 million dollars and, as a token of goodwill, today at 4.00 p.m. 187 million dollars from the borrowed means were repaid for the debt extinction of which Gazprom had demanded", First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus said.
In this connection Vladimir Semashko required Russia to pay to Belarus the indebtedness for transit at a rate of 260 million dollars, accumulated from the beginning of the year till 10:00 on June, 24th, AFN informs. «If it is not done, we will have to terminate rendering of a service on transit of hydrocarbonic raw materials through Belarus», First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus stated.
In the meantime the representatives of Gazprom didn’t confirm settlement repayment by Belarus of the debt for gas in the evening on June, 23rd. According to the official representative of the Russian gas monopolist Sergey Kupriyanov, there were no money on the account at that time. «We will confirm debt repayment only after receipt of money», the Press Secretary of the holding emphasized.
Earlier the representatives of Gazprom declared that Belarus owed 192 million dollars for gas. The Belarusian authorities initially stated that the debt of Russia for transit amounts 217 million dollars, however then president Alexander Lukashenko informed at a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov that «Gazprom» indebtedness constitutes 260 million dollars.
