Alexander Lukashenko spoke about their everyday concerns – merchant

the Conflict of Russia and Belarus around Minsk’s debt for gas, which Moscow has cut oil supplies have reached a new level: the Republic appealed to the court, and its head personally wrote a letter to President Vladimir Putin, calling the situation “a mockery”. Alexander Lukashenko insists that due to the fall in oil prices, the cost of gas for the country should be even lower than in 2016,— $ 83 for 1 thousand cubic meters against $ 132, which asks “Gazprom”. Negotiations the parties will continue on Saturday.

the Head of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on Friday made several loud statements concerning tense relations with Russia on oil and gas issue. According to him, the Republic appealed to the court at the reduction of Russian oil supplies. They had to be 24 million tons of oil annually, but was reduced in response to the shortfall in Belarus, the bills for gas. From the beginning of 2016 Minsk unilaterally reduced the payment for Russian gas, which has a debt of $ 550 million.

“I told you what the problem is, the price of oil and gas. Moreover, the dispute was solely on gas, they started in violation of all agreements to cut oil. We appealed, of course, to the court in accordance with our agreements. The trial will, of course, but is it okay?” — said at a press conference in Minsk, Mr. Lukashenko. According to him, he wrote a handwritten letter to President Vladimir Putin, which noted that the development of the conflict, “even before the border was reached” in the future it would lead to “escalation on many fronts”. He stressed that he regards the situation around oil and gas dispute with Russia “as a mockery.”

At the same time, Mr. Lukashenko assured that Belarus can do without Russian oil, even though it would be “very difficult”. “Why cling to live, why to take us by the throat? This is not comparable, if on one side independence and the other Russian, Iranian, Azerbaijani and American oil, this is not comparable. We will still find a way. In Russia, unfortunately, do not understand,”— said the head of Belarus. How can be resolved the gas dispute is unclear, as Belarus still insists on its position to reduce the price. On Friday, Mr. Lukashenka said that Belarus has the right to reduce the price of Russian gas due to the reduction in price of oil in the world. In his opinion, the fair value — $ 83 for 1 thousand cubic meters. The entire 2016 Belarus was paying $ 107 per 1 thousand cubic meters, while, according to the calculations of the Russian side, the price was to be $ 132 per 1 thousand cubic meters, which is the lowest cost gas in foreign portfolio “Gazprom”.

the Parties tried to settle the conflict in October and, according to "Kommersant", almost agreed in Minsk before the end of the month promised to repay the debt for gas. But it never happened. A new round of talks will be held on Saturday, February 4. Belarus will be represented by Vice-Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko.

in Addition, the discontent of Alexander Lukashenko was the fact that the Russian authorities do not give Belarusian companies the opportunity to produce oil in the Russian Federation. “I haven’t told you about another item: when these four or five companies with the Russians negotiated for a long time, I said okay let’s do this, without money, we give you these companies, you give us a controlling stake. The last sentence was — "Bashneft". You are brothers! We will produce, we will have the oil, we need it. No! And then on the hook to keep?” — said the President of Belarus. “Bashneft” the Russian authorities are going to privatize, but in the end the control of the state was without competition transferred to Rosneft. Alexander Lukashenko also noted that Belarus can not buy even in small companies with the production of 3-5 million tons of oil. “In Venezuela we are going to extract oil now in Canada going t o Iran to negotiate. Why in Russia we don’t produce oil? I say we let this "baby" will buy 3 million tons will unite, we will extract and place in Belarus and recycle. No! “Rosneft” will deliver”, he said.

In the Kremlin, commenting on statements of Alexander Lukashenko reminded that from 2011 to 2015 to Belarus duty-free delivered 18-23 million tons of oil per year. “During this period, the Russian budget has received less $ 22.3 bn All this is nothing as direct and indirect support of the Union of the Belarusian state”,— said the press service of the Kremlin.

the Director of the national energy security Fund Konstantin Simonov in the air “Kommersant FM”: “Lukashenko hint: guys, if you don’t hear from me in the oil and gas issue, then I include the idea of leaving for the West. This is actually the same as in their time happened in Ukraine when Yanukovych was blackmailing Moscow absolutely the same. However, it ended badly for Yanukovych. The situation in Belarus is completely different than in Ukraine, but, nevertheless, a hint Lukashenko is very clear. The origin of this hint has to do with the fact that the Belarusian economy simply can not dispute with Moscow.” Read more

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Belarus will receive Russian oil.

As found “Kommersant” in early January, Russia is going to cut oil supplies to Belarus up to 4 million tonnes in the first quarter after the parties failed until the end of last year to find a solution to the gas dispute. Initially the graph is meant to supply 4.5 million tons of oil per quarter, but now Moscow, apparently, will continue the practice of reducing the supply of oil, to encourage Minsk to repay more than $ 400 million in debt for gas. Read more

Olga Matushenko