MINSK, 4 May (BelTA) – Gas price issues should not be discussed at the governmental level, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko told reporters after the plenary session of the Belarusian Industrial Forum, BelTA has learned.
“These issues should not be submitted for discussion at the governmental level. These are the issues under the purview of economic entities. These are regular economic relations,” Vladimir Semashko noted.
The official does not rule out the possibility that the matter may be discussed at the meeting of the Belarus-Russia Union State Council of Ministers on 12 May. “We have no plans to initiate discussion regarding this issue, but the Russian side may raise it,” Vladimir Semashko said.
The Vice Premier pointed out that Gazprom Transgaz Belarus has filed a lawsuit against Belarusian gas supply companies for non-payment with the arbitration court at the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The suit has been accepted, and the court will rule on it,” Vladimir Semashko noted. He added that Gazprom has no right to reduce gas supplies until the court proceedings are finished.
The official explained that the Belarusian gas supply companies believe that under the existing intergovernmental agreements they can buy gas at a lower price. “Gazprom Transgaz Belarus is trying to set the price for us at $132,” Vladimir Semashko said.
