Belarus threatens to take gas from the export pipeline for its needs, the official representative of Gazprom Sergei Kupriyanov informed at press conference on June, 22nd. According to the Press Secretary of gas holding, Gazprom received the letter of Vladimir Semashko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, where it is said about such actions of Belarus in case of the further decrease of gas delivery by Russia.
«We have received the letter of Vladimir Semashko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus. In the letter there are no serious offers on debt repayment. And there is a threat that the Belarusian party will take gas from the transit pipe for the requirements of national economy of Belarus in case of the further decrease in gas delivery», Sergei Kupriyanov said.
«Let’s separate flies from cutlets, i.e. transit and gas delivery», the official representative of Gazprom said, RIA Novosti informs. According to Sergei Kupriyanov, «everything is extremely accurate and clear» in the question of gas delivery.
«There is the price defined in the contract and there is the price at which Beltransgaz pays and there is absolutely clear amount of debt of 192 million dollars which needs to be repaid. There are also absolutely clear sanctions in the contract connected with delivery reduction», the Press Secretary of the Russian gas monopolist said.
«Transit and delivery questions are clearly defined even in our the most imperfect contract with Beltransgaz. And it is impossible to connect them by any means. And the sanctions which can be applied in case of occurrence of those or other conflict situations are absolutely different. Therefore the main and unique question we discuss now is debt repayment for delivered gas», Sergei Kupriyanov emphasized.
The representative of Gazprom also said that if Minsk started unapproved confiscation of gas, Russia would involve alternative possibilities of transit.
As Telegraf informed, Gazprom finished reduction of the amounts of gas deliveries to Belarus by 30 % since 10:00 Moscow time on June, 22nd. According to the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller, such decision is accepted in connection with absence of progress in question of payment by Belarus of gas debts, accumulated from the beginning of 2010.
