This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/10400911.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Russia 'boosting' Belarus gas | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Belarus claimed Russia owed it extra money for transit fees | Belarus claimed Russia owed it extra money for transit fees |
Russia's Gazprom says it is resuming gas supplies to Belarus after receiving payment for outstanding gas bills. | Russia's Gazprom says it is resuming gas supplies to Belarus after receiving payment for outstanding gas bills. |
Belarus said that it in turn had received payment from Gazprom, which uses pipelines across Belarus to pump gas to third countries. | Belarus said that it in turn had received payment from Gazprom, which uses pipelines across Belarus to pump gas to third countries. |
Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov said gas supplies would be resumed in full at 1000 local time (0600 GMT). | Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov said gas supplies would be resumed in full at 1000 local time (0600 GMT). |
Russia had reduced its gas supplies to Belarus by 60%, which had a knock-on effect on supplies to Lithuania. | Russia had reduced its gas supplies to Belarus by 60%, which had a knock-on effect on supplies to Lithuania. |
Russia started cutting supplies on Monday, after saying Belarus had failed to pay $192m for gas - though Belarus calculated the fees at $187m, the amount that Belarus said it had transferred on Wednesday. | |
Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had claimed that Belarus was owed $260m (£176m) by Russia in fees for using transit pipelines. | Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had claimed that Belarus was owed $260m (£176m) by Russia in fees for using transit pipelines. |
Mr Kupriyanov said on Thursday that Gazprom had paid Belarus $228m for the transit fees. | Mr Kupriyanov said on Thursday that Gazprom had paid Belarus $228m for the transit fees. |
'Lowest possible price' | 'Lowest possible price' |
It was not immediately clear whether both sides were entirely satisfied with the payments, though Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin implied that the dispute was ending. | It was not immediately clear whether both sides were entirely satisfied with the payments, though Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin implied that the dispute was ending. |
"We regret that a conflict erupted," he said. | "We regret that a conflict erupted," he said. |
"We hope it won't be repeated... We need to hold talks with our partners and solve all disputed issues in a normal, working, amicable atmosphere." | "We hope it won't be repeated... We need to hold talks with our partners and solve all disputed issues in a normal, working, amicable atmosphere." |
A spokesman for the Belarusian foreign ministry, Andrei Savinykh, expressed regret that the dispute had "reached such a scale". | A spokesman for the Belarusian foreign ministry, Andrei Savinykh, expressed regret that the dispute had "reached such a scale". |
"We hope that the two countries' economic entities will be able to find a solution to all issues," he said. | "We hope that the two countries' economic entities will be able to find a solution to all issues," he said. |
Russia increased the price of gas supplied to Belarus from $150 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas last year, to $169.20 in the first quarter of 2010 and $184.80 in the second. | Russia increased the price of gas supplied to Belarus from $150 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas last year, to $169.20 in the first quarter of 2010 and $184.80 in the second. |
But Belarus had continued to pay at $150. | But Belarus had continued to pay at $150. |
Mr Putin said on Thursday that Belarus was still getting its gas cheaply. | Mr Putin said on Thursday that Belarus was still getting its gas cheaply. |
"I would like to point out that the Belarusian partners are receiving Russian natural gas at the lowest possible price. No consumers of Russian gas enjoy prices lower than that." | "I would like to point out that the Belarusian partners are receiving Russian natural gas at the lowest possible price. No consumers of Russian gas enjoy prices lower than that." |
Russia supplies about a quarter of the gas consumed in the EU, and 42% of the EU's gas imports. | Russia supplies about a quarter of the gas consumed in the EU, and 42% of the EU's gas imports. |
Russia has cut gas supplies to both Ukraine and Belarus several times in recent years. | Russia has cut gas supplies to both Ukraine and Belarus several times in recent years. |
About 80% of Russian gas bound for European countries goes via Ukraine, but Lithuania, Germany and Poland rely on supplies through Belarus. | About 80% of Russian gas bound for European countries goes via Ukraine, but Lithuania, Germany and Poland rely on supplies through Belarus. |