Belarus Warns It May Block Gas (Russia/Europe)

[CHIMO]

Gas transit through Belarus to Europe will be illegal unless Gazprom relents on demands that Minsk pay steep price increases in 2007, a senior Belarussian official said Wednesday.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller responded by demanding still higher prices and insisting that the gas for Europe cross the Belarussian border. Gazprom also said the threat was tantamount to planning to siphon off gas.

If Gazprom and Belarus do not agree on a price for Belarus, that would mean no contract for gas transit, Belarussian First Deputy Energy Minister Eduard Tovpenets said. "How can it transit without a contract? It would be a direct breach of the law," he said, Interfax reported.

He reiterated the stance that Belarussian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko made at the Minsk airport late Tuesday after his return from failed talks in Moscow.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/12/28/041.html

[David__77]

1. Belarus is much better shape than its ex-Soviet neighbors.

They are pursuing a good economic program and have some national cohesion, unlike, say, the Ukraine. They won't let Russia walk on them either.

[lanlady]

3. it's a communist dictatorship

that jails dissidents, journalists, and rivals to President-for-Life Lukashenka. All economic activity is controlled by a clique of kleptocratic Lukashenka loyalists, while ordinary citizens are left to struggle in conditions that have barely changed since Soviet times. Other than that, sure, Belarus is doing just fine. <sarcasm>

[David__77]

4. Most Russians wish "things hadn't changed since Soviet times."

Instead, conditions for average citizens have gotten far worse. The first "human right" is the right to health and life, which are threatened by capitalism every day.

[IndyBob]

2. I suggest

the "senior Belorussian official" hire a food taster or two. It's not healthy to upset your neighbors in that neck of the woods.

[havocmom]

5. Was thinkin those in charge are asking for an invasion/occupation.

Seems Corporate states don't think much of invading pipeline bottlenecks, even if the pipeline is still on a drawing board somewhere.