MINSK, 13 March (BelTA) – The crisis of the Eurasian integration is seen in Russia's attitude to its closest ally, Belarus, Chairman of the Development Movement Yuri Krupnov (Russia) said in an interview with the Belarus One TV channel, BelTA has learned.
In his words, the stalemate in the Belarus-Russia gas price talks is due to the Eurasian integration crisis. “This is not about gas and its price. Moscow cannot decide whether it wants the Eurasian integration or not. Why do we need then all those wonderful sand-castles regarding the Eurasian cooperation, the single customs space, the Customs Code and so on?” said Yuri Krupnov.
The current situation is very tough, the expert believes. There is such a notion as gas geoeconomy, gas geopolitics. Gas is a strong instrument and it should be used for a particular goal. “Why was not this geopolitical, geoeconomic instrument used when it should have been? Why does Moscow use it in respect to its main ally today? We should take a different look at the matter and ask ourselves who Moscow will eventually stay with,” Yuri Krupnov said.
