Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, at a meeting with Gazprom's Board chairman, Alexei Miller, gave Belarus five days to decide on payment of the debt for Russian gas delivered in 2010. According to Russian leader, this term is defined "taking into account that we cooperate with Belarus as partners".
«You will contact the heads of Belarusian structures, who deal with this issue, and offer them to repay debt as soon as possible. If this is not done then we’ll have to take strict measures», Dmitri Medvedev said, RIA Novosti informs.
In his turn, Miller recalled that in the case of Belarus’ non-payment of gas arrears after the deadline «in accordance with the terms of the contract, we have all the reasons to reduce gas supplies to Belarus in proportion to the debt to Gazprom».
Furthermore, the head of Gazprom stressed that Belarus had the means to pay the debt in amount of about 200 million dollars, formed due to the fact that Belarus paid for gas supplies in 2010 at a price of 2009.
«This year Gazprom has fully paid for 50 per cent of Beltransgaz shares, this year there has been paid the last tranche of 12.5% equal to 625 million dollars. So, this year the Belarusian side has received the money from Gazprom for Beltransgaz shares in full amount and has financial resources to pay for Russian gas in accordance with the terms of the contract on gas price growth in 2010», Alexei Miller said.
Lukashenko has complained that Belarus has no money, Medvedev
In addition, the Board chairman of Russian gas monopoly said that Gazprom had not received «the answer in fact, when the debt will be repaid» on their two official letters sent to Beltransgaz.
«I had a conversation with Alexander Grigorievich (Lukashenko, the president of Belarus — Telegraf), he said that it (the situation with gas arrears) is determined by the difficult financial situation, but, frankly speaking, it is all difficult now, and Gazprom has many problems. Therefore, unfortunately, this is an insufficient explanation», the president of Russia stated.
