Belarus to protect national interests when negotiating with Gazprom, Alexander Lukashenko says

When negotiating with Gazprom Belarus will protect national interests, Alexander Lukashenko told reporters on September 22 in Rechitsa. “During these negotiations everything is possible, yet our stance is clear. It is well-motivated and will be tied up to the transit fees of the Russian gas via Belarus,” the head of state said. Alexander Lukashenko reminded that Gazprom received the same revenues from gas sold to Belarus as from gas sold to Germany. “Of course, Germany pays a higher cost per one cubic meter than Belarus. But we have to bear in mind the distance which makes it clear that Gazprom makes a profit out of Belarus,” he said. “Next year they want to raise the price by 15%. I do not know what wrong we did to the Russian authorities,” the President said and stressed that the Russians did not support the Gazprom price policy in respect to Belarus. “Nonetheless, this is their commodity and we cannot make them cut the price. We will try to give strong reasons, though I don’t think we will manage to persuade them,” Alexander Lukashenko said. The President stressed that the Belarusian economy will survive the next hike in gas prices and added that the gas supply contract for the next year will be signed in time.

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